INTERVIEW: Sevier Crespo Producer of Werewolves
Sevier Crespo is an award-winning actor, producer, and writer. He recently had a conversation with Grimdark Magazine’s C.T. Phipps to discuss his latest project, the horror film Werewolves.
[GdM] Thank you Sevier for agreeing to chat with us about Werewolves. First off, can you tell us the premise for Werewolves for readers who haven’t heard of the film?
[SC] At some point in the past, a supermoon triggered something in humans that caused anyone exposed to transform into werewolves. This resulted in millions being killing overnight. And now there’s another supermoon approaching. Scientists are desperately trying to figure out the cause of this phenomenon in order to save civilization.
[GdM] You’ve described it as “The Purge meets Werewolves.” What elements of The Purge get combined with lycanthropy?
[SC] There’s the annual night of chaos and killing in The Purge. It’s known that it’s coming, not unlike Werewolves where we know the super moon is coming and we know what that means. Probably the element that gets combined is the primal horror of The Purge as compared to the lycanthropy of Werewolves. It forces people to prepare for mass chaos. But instead of human violence, it’s triggered by the werewolf transformations. In both films there are moral dilemmas, like how to survive when loved ones turn against you. Also, social and economic factors that come into play, where the rich have more resources to protect themselves than those of lesser means. It’s all about survival.
[GdM] Katrina Law (NCIS), Ilfenesh Hadera (Godfather of Harlem), and Lou Diamond Phillips (Prodigal Son, Longmire) are also in the film. Do you have any details you’d like to share about one or two of their characters?
[SC] Katrina Law’s character is Frank’s colleague and they have to work together to survive, while Lou is a scientist working to discover how to save humanity. Ilfenesh is Frank’s sister-in-law that fights to protect her daughter from the werewolves led by Cody, the vindictive neighbor turned werewolf.
[GdM] What sort of special effects were necessary to create a world of werewolves?
[SC] Everything was done as practical as possible. The team was led by Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., known for their work on Alien and Predator. There was a lot of work and thought put into the authenticity of the werewolf transformations by those that had massive experience with make-up, animatronics, and other special effects.
Werewolves Producer Sevier Crespo
[GdM] How dark would you say the movie gets? Is it action horror or just plain horror?
[SC] It’s an action horror/thriller that gets dark. There are a lot of elements from those genres that are combined in a really fun and creative way. It’s definitely an all-around, entertaining film.
[GdM] Will there be any humor in Werewolves?
[SC] I think the characters are grounded in reality, but depending on your sense of humor, some viewers may find some things funny, while others may not.
[GdM] What can fans of horror expect from this film?
[SC] Werewolves has some really cool throwback monsters and suspenseful moments. I feel like audiences are sophisticated enough notice there is something lacking when films use CGI and visual effects. We have real, live 6’ 7’’ athletes and talent inside these ginormous outfits roaming around in 100-degree weather at night. There’s a reality to it. If they are annoyed, angry, thirsty, or hot, it’s coming across because of the actors and the practical aspect of the werewolves. I think there’s something really cool about that.
[GdM] Our audience is drawn to dark and gritty films—what is it about Werewolves that will appeal to them?
[SC] It’s not a bubbly movie, that’s for sure. The film dives into the darker side of our world, tackling issues like pollution in our environment and how society is struggling more and more to uphold basic human rights. The gaps of the “haves” and the “have-nots” are increasing dramatically and the film touches on that too.
[GdM] What makes Werewolves stand out from monster movies?
[SC] To me, the wolves are everything. They’re awesome. The talent that portrays them did such a phenomenal job. I can’t really recall a movie, outside of Predator or Aliens, where they used honest to goodness, bad-to-the-bone animatronics like this. It makes it so fun. That, to me, differentiates it from other horror films. Werewolf-wise, I haven’t seen anything like this since American Werewolf in London.
[GdM] There have been many stories involving werewolves throughout history. Is there a film or story that has been a big influence on Werewolves?
[SC] I think our director Steven C. Miller would have something to say on this. I’d say American Werewolf in London was a big one because of the practicality they achieved. To me it was next level for its time and seemed unbeatable.
[GdM] Thank you so much to Sevier Crespo for taking the time to chat with us. Werewolves was released in the USA on December 6th 2024
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