Rarely do I tell you how to watch a film, but Visual Vengeance and Wild Eye Releasing has supplied two perfect ways to get into the mood to fully relish Lycan Colony. When you open the DVD case, you’ll see a wrapped Lycan Colony air freshener in the shape of a werewolf. Open up the plastic and take a deep whiff. The New Hampshire Forest Scent will fill your nose and prepare you for the finest werewolf movie ever made in the Granite State. Put the Blu-ray disc into the player and hit close. Instead of going straight to “Play,” enter the Special Features section and select the RiffTrax version of the film. Having Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett commenting over this hairy tale will make you howl while watching Lycan Colony.
Dr. Dan’s life has been in a downward spiral ever since he showed up for surgery drunk and killed a patient. Even though the hospital covered for him, the doctor found himself forced to move to a remote town in New Hampshire for work. He got the new position thanks to his pal Dave (Sean Burgoyne) who is also his Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor. What causes Dr. Dan’s drinking problem? Perhaps it is the knowledge that someday his son Stewart (Ryan O Roy) will turn into a werewolf. And that day is coming soon. The family are currently vegans as they try to keep their son for getting a taste for meat. After an A.A. meeting Dr. Dan and Dave drop by the town’s bar and meet up with Doug Allen (Bill Finely) and Russ Allen (Gretchen Weisiger). They’re looking for their ex-Navy Seal father who disappeared recently while on a hunting trip in the New Hampshire woods. The siblings are in for a showing surprise when they discover how many werewolves are around the town.
Lycan Colony is the work of plucky regional filmmaking. This was shot on video back in the early 2000s with Rob Roy doing all the major jobs of producing, directing, writing, cinematography, editing and probably craft service. Having been around quite a few people who kept talking about making a video movie, I’m impressed that Rob Roy was able to complete his dream. The film is rather hairy outside of the werewolf action. Rob Roy has action that flips between actors in the woods to the same actors being photographed on green screen and inserted into the same woods. He uses plenty of early ’00s computer effects for consumers. There’s a great moment where he superimposes a tattoo on the back of a character’s neck. When you’re a small crew, a few details do fall through the cracks and Rob Roy was able to fix this one in post and make it strangely entertaining. And that’s the best part of the film: it’s strangely entertaining. The werewolf costumes are visually impressive for a production that didn’t have a Rick Baker budget. There’s plenty of action on the screen especially when one of the Allen siblings has to go full Rambo on the werewolf colony. The metal music on the soundtrack is fun especially the dinner scene with a song that starts with “Eat me before I eat you.” This might be about werewolves eating people, but there’s a lot of inadvertent cheese in the film. If you get the odor of the New Hampshire woods in your nose and the sounds of the RiffTrax guys cutting up, Lycan Colony is a fun way to spend a fall evening.
The Video is 1.78:1 anamorphic. This was shot on video back in the early 2000s, so the image quality isn’t the greatest. Rob Roy uses a lot of effects and color filters, so it has a warm fuzzy feeling to the frame. The Audio is Dolby Digital Stereo. You’ll hear the rocking soundtrack and the werewolf snarls during fights. The movie is subtitled.
Commentary with director Rob Roy has him talk about how this was a family activity as his sons are among the cast. He points out that his band, the Rob Roy Band also provided music for the film and his son rocks out to them. he gets into the animation and special effects. Turns out the hunter that gets killed in the opening is the guitarist in his band.
Commentary with Sam Panico of B&S About Movies and Bill Van Ryn of Drive-In Asylum. The two discuss how the soundtrack makes them think of Howling 2. We learn that actress Libby Collins has gone on to appear in Louie and The Knick. They discuss the drinking games you can play during the film.
2022 Interview with director Rob Roy (21:34) has him explain how he wanted to make a movie about a town full of werewolves. He learned about making a movie while making his movie. He bought a video camera that shot in 24 fps to get that film look. He built the suits. He writes novels now.
The full Rifftrax version of Lycan Colony (73:35) has former Mystery Science Theater members cutting of the hairy action. They only do audio so no little shadows at the bottom of the screen. There’s a great
Blooper Reel (3:22) has the cast and crew cutting up a bit. This is OK since they weren’t wasting actual film.
Lycan Colony Music Video (2:55) has the band H.A.Y.W.I.R.E. performing “Devour.” They use clips from the movie and a dancer in a go-go cage. It’s gritty guitar riff. Why didn’t this run on MTV’s Headbangers Ball?
Original Trailer (1:27) takes us to Canisborough, New Hampshire on the night of a full moon when the hunter becomes the hunted.
Visual Vengeance Trailer (0:42) recuts to get to the nasty bits of werewolf business.
Four page liner notes/ essay by Sam Panico gives us the background on this slice of New Hampshire filmmaking.
Collectible Folded mini-poster is suitable for framing.
‘Stick your own’ VHS sticker set let you play video clerk in 1994 with a dozen circle notices for the customers. Best sticker is “Rewind or Pay The Fine.”
New Hampshire Forest Scent Air Freshener is only part of the first pressing. What other movie offers to smell your way into the scene (other than John Waters’ Polyester).
Visual Vengeance and Wild Eye Releasing present Lycan Colony. Directed by Rob Roy. Screenplay by Rob Roy. Starring Bill Sykes, Karl Bertelmann, Sean Burgoyne, Kadrolsha Ona Carole, Libby Collins, Bill Finley, Kristi Lynn, Steve Pascucci, Jacob Roy & Ryan O Roy. Running Time: 88 minutes. Release Date: October 24, 2023.
