Silver Bullet (1985)

 

Stephen King adaptations are a bit of a mixed bag. There are absolute classics and most excellent ones, yet there are also horrendous ones that fail on every level. Doesn't mean that the lower budgeted ones are the worst: 'Dreamcatcher' had an insane budget and still stinks to high heaven. 'Silver Bullet' isn't an absolute classic, but it isn't half bad, either. It's decent for what it tries to do, with some solid performances and a few standout scenes.

In the small town of Tarker's Mills, people begin to be killed. At first, no one really takes notice because many could be seen as accidents, but when a young woman is ripped to shreds in her bedroom, things start to heat up. No one is able to find the maniac responsible, let alone capture him. Marty Coslaw is a paraplegic boy with a vivid imagination and he begins to suspect that stranger things might be afoot, even going so far as to suggest a werewolf. 

Of course, no one believes him. Would you?

But when Marty is attacked on a bridge and he got a clear look at what could only be a werewolf, he is now determined to end this reign of terror with the help of his sister and his wayward uncle Red who, coincidentally, builds jacked-up wheelchairs for Marty. Because Marty wounded the werewolf in the eye with a flare, they are now on the lookout for a person missing an eye. They soon find him, but he is not at all who they expected it to be... 

As far as werewolf films go, this one is pretty enjoyable. Sure, it was never the highest budgeted nor the most famous, but it does its job well. The cast is pretty solid, with 80s stalwart Corey Haim as Marty who is just pretty good in the role. Everet McGill is once again very good, but it's tough to find a part that guy has played where he doesn't deliver exactly what he has to. But who really steals the cake (and show) is Gary Busey. 

Yes, the man was an actor before he became a meme. And if you know the absolute shit he went through in his life and how he bounced back - even if occasionally a little insane - then this guy deserves nothing but respect. He absolutely nails the part of uncle Red and it becomes even better when you realize that he adlibbed every single line. He comes across as the most genuine performer by far and just an all around good egg. It's truly a wonderful sight to behold. 

That is not to say the film isn't without its flaws. Some of the secondary characters overdo it. Especially the father of a boy who is murdered feels a bit off. The special effects are okay, but nothing special. They do a good job at keeping the werewolf in the dark for the most part, because when you do see it, the face looks incredibly goofy. It's a shame, though. With a more pronounced snout and fangs it would have looked far better. Now it has that Yogi Bear-vibe. 

Some scenes are downright silly. There's one in the church that turns out to be a dream, but it is all sorts of hilarious for the wrong reasons. Then there are scenes like the one on the bridge where Marty is stalked by the werewolf that are absolutely spot on perfect. Somehow, you get the feeling that the better executed scenes were the ones done by Don Coscarelli, before he was replaced by Daniel Attias. I could be wrong, but it sure feels like it. There's a bit of an uneven feel to it all at times. 

The final showdown with the werewolf is a bit weird. Apparently, Gary Busey had no idea what was going to happen, except that he had to do a few stunts. Well, he chose to do them himself. But right before the final attack, the werewolf cuts the electricity, turning the room dark, yet when he enters, everything is brightly lit. Talk about a continuity error... 

Anyway: 'Silver Bullet' is no masterpiece, not by a long shot. However, it is still an entertaining werewolf story, one that often gets brought up when discussing the 80s slew of similar projects. It's fun, has it's moments and has a Gary Busey in prime condition. You know what to do.