How to Make a Werewolf is a new action horror feature written and directed by Dr. Omar Reid. The film released this year and stars Jace A. Edwards, Melahnie Bagley and Miles Nelson.
How to Make a Werewolf focuses on teenager Xen who finds his sister suddenly killed. Grieving and angry, Xen sulks in his own darkness until he comes across Aana, a dark arts practitioner. Aana recognizes his pain and offers him a shot at vengeance against those who did his sister wrong. However, Xen will get more than he bargained for when he finds himself in a world of magic and monsters. If he is to survive and get those responsible, Xen must balance the monster simmering within. What follows is a tale of blood and evil as Xen goes up against forces he barely comprehends.
Speaking of performances, Jace A. Edwards as Xen is the star of the story and he carries the film single handedly. Portraying an actor with an increasingly unstable mind with nuance, Edward’s performance is terrifying and shocking. Not only does he manage to elucidate the transformation into a monster with considerable ease, his expressions and sudden changes in emotion are a sight to behold. Displaying the side effects of the intense battle taking place deep within, Xen finds himself losing control to another, more deadly part of his subconscious. Did he really become another thing entirely or was it merely a fever dream?
Another notable aspect of the film is its wild cinematography. Omar Ried frames the film in a way that showcases the visual differences between Xen’s normal self and his animalistic side. The camera zooms in shakily as the battle in Xen’s mind ensues and as his feral side comes out on top, a bluish hue signals the rise of his alternate self. This, coupled with the unconventional shots and hand held cinematography, elucidates that Xen has fallen off the deep end and something more brutal has taken his place. Expertly using colour to reflect various emotive conversations, Omar packs so many visual cues into the film that they become a subtext of their own. The monster action is captured and framed in a way that apprises the audience of how brutal the transformation is on the titular character.
On the other end are the villains who are vampires. Played by Connor Sherman, Freddie McWilliams and Haven Johnson-Jordan, the vampires are played to perfection. Detestable and revolting, we find ourselves rooting for Xen in this monster mash. But the vampires have a few tricks up their sleeves and Xen will need all the help he can get, if he is to come out on top.
By far the most impressive thing about this film is its use of practical visual effects. In a time where audiences are bombarded with an overload of computer generated effects, it is refreshing to find a film that uses as low CGI as possible. Although practical effects are more cumbersome to accomplish, they are more believable as well and age better than CGI over time. There is a sense of realism to practical effects that CGI rarely manages to accomplish.
Thus, How to Make a Werewolf is one of the better horror films this year. The action is brutal, the monsters are crazy and the underlying story of revenge against insurmountable forces really sucks you in. Omar Ried has made a film that goes all the way, isn’t afraid to take risks and manages to be crazy when it wants to. We want more of this and hope that Omar Reid really has another similar adventure in store for us in the near future. Vampires vs werewolves has been to death in cinema but Omar brings something fresh to the table and we must absolutely applaud him for that. Four stars out of five.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Omar Reid is a multi-talented American actor, director, and film producer, as well as a published author and videographer. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Reid moved to the United States and served in the US Air Force before pursuing his passion for film. He started his career as a screenwriter and videographer before debuting his independent limited web series, “The Brother’s Keeper,” which is now available on several popular channels.
Reid gained significant recognition with the release of his award-winning feature film, “How to Make a Werewolf.” Omar is also an accomplished author, having published several books, including his favorite, “Silencia the Mute Assassin.” In his spare time, he enjoys making music and has produced songs under his artist name Chenna (Chénna), including “Want To” and “Suicide.” (chennamusic.com)
With a diverse range of talents and a passion for storytelling, Omar Reid continues to create compelling content across various mediums, earning critical acclaim for his work in the entertainment industry.
