Werewolf by Night (2022)

TV Plot Synopsis

On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerges from the shadows and gathers at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic–a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster. (Courtesy of Marvel Studios)

‘Werewolf by Night’ TV Summary

The infamous monster hunter Ulysses Bloodstone (Richard Dixon) has died. In the aftermath of his death, five experienced monster hunters in his employ have been summoned by Ulysses’ widow, Verussa Bloodstone (Harriet Sansom Harris), to Bloodstone Manor. The hunters have been invited to participate in a competitive hunt to determine their new leader. The new leader will be granted the ability to wield the powerful Bloodstone. The hunters – Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal), Jovan (Kirk R. Thatcher), Azarel (Eugenie Bondurant), Liorn (Leonardo Nam), and Barasso (Daniel J. Watts) – are unexpectedly joined by a sixth hunter, Ulysses’ estranged daughter Elsa (Laura Donnelly). Elsa wishes to reclaim the family birthright herself despite her mother’s warnings to withdraw.

The hunters’ target is a captured monster known as Man-Thing (Carey Jones), an empathic human and plant hybrid. The Bloodstone has been implanted within Man-Thing and the hunters merely need to capture the monster and retrieve the Bloodstone to win. The hunt takes place in a large maze on the Manor’s expansive grounds. Russell is the first one to find the monster, but Russell’s true motives are to help the creature. Russell and Man-Thing are friends, and Russell refers to the creature as Ted. Russell communicates his escape plan to Man-Thing and then leaves the creature to do his part.

Meanwhile, Elsa is forced to fight and kill one of the other hunters. Elsa is exhausted from the fight, and Russell finds her hiding in a mausoleum. Elsa and Russell agree to work together to assist Man-Thing in escaping the Manor grounds in exchange for Elsa receiving the Bloodstone. Not long after, Man-Thing kills another one of the hunters while Russell destroys the outer wall to the maze for everyone to escape. Man-Thing flees into the forest after Elsa removes the Bloodstone from him. However, the Bloodstone reacts violently to Russell’s touch indicating that he too is in fact a monster. Verussa and the remaining hunters arrive at that moment and capture Russell and Elsa.

Just kill me as I am. Otherwise, there will be no mercy, I promise. Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal)

A short time later, Elsa and Russell are both placed in a solitary cage. Verussa wishes to see what kind of monster Russell is and uses the Bloodstone to trigger Russell’s transformation into the Werewolf By Night. However, the Werewolf does not kill the imprisoned Elsa as Verussa intended. Instead, the creature breaks free from the cage and kills Verussa’s guards. Before he can kill her, Verussa uses the Bloodstone to subdue the Werewolf. At the same time, Elsa also escapes her captivity and kills the two remaining hunters. Once free, Elsa stops her mother from killing the Werewolf.

A grateful Elsa approaches the Werewolf after Verussa is subdued, but the creature initially attacks her before recognizing who she is. The Werewolf than spares Elsa’s life and flees the Manor. Angered by the loss of the creature, Verussa attempts to shoot Elsa. However, Man-Thing returns and uses his power to incinerate Verussa. Man-Thing then runs off to find his friend Russell. The last person standing, Elsa, takes possession of the Manor and the Bloodstone. The next day, a once again human Russell awakens in the forest with Man-Thing watching over him. Russell is pleased to learn that Elsa has survived the night, and the two friends move onto their next adventure together.