In the world of werewolf movies, you’d think there’s not much new to say. But Kit Harington’s directorial debut, ‘The Beast Within’, attempts to carve out a fresh niche in the genre by focusing on themes of trauma and mental health. Unfortunately, the film falls short of its potential due to a convoluted narrative, underdeveloped characters, and unconvincing werewolf effects.

The story follows a young man named Jacob (Harington) who is struggling to cope with the loss of his father after a tragic accident. As he delves deeper into the mystery surrounding his father’s death, Jacob begins to experience strange and terrifying transformations. It becomes clear that he is turning into a werewolf, but the film never quite explains why or how this is happening.

The script by Rob Hayes is overly reliant on convenient plot devices and tired werewolf clichés. The characters are paper-thin, with Jacob being a particularly underdeveloped protagonist. His motivations for delving deeper into his father’s death are unclear, and his emotional state is never fully explored. The supporting cast is equally one-dimensional.

The werewolf effects themselves are another major letdown. They’re cheap-looking and lack any real tension or scares. When Jacob transforms into the beast, it looks like a poorly rendered CGI creation that belongs in a video game rather than a feature film.

Despite its many flaws, ‘The Beast Within’ does show some promise in its exploration of trauma and mental health. Harington clearly has a passion for the subject matter, and his performance as Jacob is admirable. However, these strengths are overshadowed by the film’s numerous shortcomings.

In conclusion, ‘The Beast Within’ is a disappointing and unconvincing take on the werewolf genre. With its convoluted narrative, underdeveloped characters, and subpar special effects, it’s hard to recommend this film to anyone except die-hard fans of the genre. Even then, there are better options available.

**Grade:** D+
**Recommendation:** Fans of werewolf movies may still find some enjoyment in ‘The Beast Within’, but others should look elsewhere.