Red: Werewolf Hunter

Virginia, Felicia Day, is seen as the modern-day descendant of Little Red Riding Hood, a character deeply tied to her family’s history of werewolves. She brings her fiancé, Nathan, to meet her family, where her brother Marcus, played by Greg Bryk, and her father are quick to embrace her back home, affectionately nicknaming her “Red.” This nickname is a long-standing family tradition, passed down through generations of first daughters.

The story takes a dark turn when a mysterious, severely injured man stumbles up the driveway. Before dying, he whispers the name “Gabriel” and soon after, turns to ashes, which perplexes Virginia’s family and triggers a series of ominous events. The sheriff is called to contain the situation, much to Nathan’s growing confusion and suspicion. Virginia gently explains that her family hunts werewolves, a revelation that Nathan strenuously doubts at first. However, his skepticism quickly diminishes when, during a sunset walk, he is attacked and bitten by a werewolf who then reveals himself as Gabriel.

As the narrative unfolds, the family prepares for the inevitable full moon hunt. Virginia explains that the only way to break the curse of lycanthropy is to kill the original werewolf who turned the victim. The story intensifies when Nathan succeeds in killing a werewolf during a hunt in town, and the group captures a girl who warns about a sinister “Game” where no human survives.

That night, Nathan undergoes his first transformation into a wolf. Recognizing the danger he poses to everyone he loves, Virginia, played by Carlyn Burchell, insists on locking him up for his safety. Nathan’s curse lifts temporarily when he’s confined, enabling him to join the hunt against Gabriel. Meanwhile, some of Virginia’s family members, including Marcus and Jake, are taken captive during the “Game.” Tragically, they are killed in the process, heightening the tension of the unfolding battle.

The climax occurs as Gabriel kidnaps Virginia, forcing Nathan to fight not only for her but for his own soul. Virginia’s grandmother desperately tries to shoot Nathan during his transformation, but he escapes, killing her in the process. Upstairs, Virginia confronts Gabriel. She smears her blood-stained hand with silver paint and manages to injure him, causing him to fall over the rail of a second story. She then leaps after him, driving a silver harpoon into his heart, effectively ending his reign of terror.

However, the victory is bittersweet. Virginia finds her grandmother dead, and she witnesses Nathan, in his werewolf form, attacking her. She flees into the woods, only to be bitten herself. In the aftermath, she discovers Nathan human again inside an abandoned building, where he pledges his love and desires a life together. Despite his heartfelt declaration, Virginia, swearing to always love him, stabs him with a silver knife to ensure he cannot harm anyone else.

The film concludes ambiguously, with Virginia reading the story of Little Red Riding Hood to a little girl, a nod to her family’s legacy. Outside, a wolf howls distantly, hinting that the cycle of werewolves may not be entirely over. The story ends on a haunting note, blending themes of love, curse, and the primal fears lurking beneath the surface of human nature.

Last Updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:58