News: Eli Roth’s Hemlock Grove Boasts Impressive Werewolf Transformation

Hemlock Grove is an up and coming television series produced by horror film maker and Goretorium owner, Eli Roth. Based on the Brian McGreevy novel, Hemlock Grove is set in a former Pennsylvanian steel town. After 17 year-old Brooke Bluebell is brutally murdered, the town proceed to hunt for her killer. Some inhabitants become increasingly suspect, specifically gypsy trailer-trash-come-werewolf Peter and rich-kid Roman. But obviously nothing is what it seems and 'the monster within' becomes a pretty important theme. 

Last week, several trailers were released to promote this new series coming to Netflix. One of which can be seen below:

I have to say that after seeing said trailers, I wasn't particularly enthused. It struck me as a little Twilight-esque, with pretty people staring broodily at one another, indulging in a little more drugs and sex, heightening that teenage angst. Not to say that there is anything wrong with that, but I had expected more horror from the gentleman who has brought us films such as Cabin Fever and Hostel. Furthermore, in a post-Walking Dead age, television series shouldn't be afraid to show a few more blood and guts these days. 

So, as if by magic, in the past 24 hours IGN released a snippet of Hemlock Grove which just so happened to feature Peter turning all wolfy in an impressive transformation scene. Here it is...

Eyes and teeth falling out? Check. Audible bone crunches and body misshaping? Check. Turning into an awesome werewolf?... Oh wait, maybe not. But i'll let that slide for now, as this particular kind of metamorphosis has a lot to live up to. When people hear 'werewolf transformation scene', thoughts automatically go to the brilliance of Rick Baker and his genius work in An American Werewolf in London. It would be wrong of me not to remind you of that...

This particular sequence set the bar incredibly high and no one has come close to matching it since, not even Hemlock Grove’s release today. Nonetheless, it’s a bloody good try and unfair to compare. Overall, IGN's release of this Hemlock Grove snippet restored my faith and expectations to the series - we can safely assume they have a few horrific tricks up their sleeves...

What did you all think of Peter's transformation scene? Post a comment!