The Beast of Walton St.

Director - Dusty Austen (Grindsploitation, Grindhouse Massacre)

Starring - Mia Jones (Urban Cannibal Massacre, Dog Eat Dog), Athena Murzda (Fiber Burn), and Aimee-Lynn Chadwick (Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis, Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2)

Release Date - 2023

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Run like HOWL"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Werewolf flicks are few and far in between especially if you are looking for indie titles.  I have a few scheduled for next month but it has been some time since my last werewolf review.  I believe it was Cocaine Werewolf at the end of September but that was just too long ago.  Luckily, I was sent over the 2023 werewolf film The Beast of Walton St. for review.  It was recently announced that the film would be released on blu by Scream Team Releasing which really caught my attention.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a screener link for me to check.

     The film follows two women who are struggling and barely getting by who find that their friends, many of them are homeless, are being torn apart with the city is doing nothing about it.  One strange encounter in an alley near their home has them convinced that a werewolf is responsible.

     I was really excited about The Beast of Walton St.  I fucking love werewolf films and I especially love indie films that represent the LGBTQ+ community.  However, the film really does struggle creating it's own identity.  It was a solid first time watch but I can recommend several other low to no budget werewolf flicks that are a bit more enjoyable than this one.  The acting in this one is great.  The entire cast is firing on all cylinders and deliver unforgettable performances.  The film's leads, Mia Jones and Athena Murzda, are exceptional together.  Their on screen chemistry makes the film for me and I can see both of them leading another genre effort in the near future.  The story for this one has a lot to say especially about the neglect and mistreatment of the homeless in major cities.  When you add a werewolf to the mix you get a very clever story that is not only scary but shows how little value human life has to politicians and corporations.  When you add in the great characters and the urban setting you have a truly unique werewolf film.  With that being said, we don't have a lot of werewolf action and the backstory for the beast/beasts is completely overshadowed by support characters and their back stories.  So much time is spent on their illnesses, orientation, and past mistakes.  I'm a big fan of character development and back stories but with Beast of Walton St. it takes center stage and overpowers the main story.  Finally, the film has a lot of blood and gore.  It wouldn't be a decent werewolf film if it didn't deliver on the red stuff.  We get a lot of gooey deaths with great practical effects.  I also liked the werewolf design even though it's not shown in the film as much as I would have liked.  Overall, The Beast of Walton St. is a solid werewolf flick if you are looking for something new with some decent gore.  However, it's far from perfect and struggles between being a dark drama and horror.  It's worth a watch but remember that it is flawed.