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The Genius Lighting & Scale of WERWULF (Cinematographer Breakdown)

Aidan Paul Films

49,177 views

In this video, I'm reacting to the WERWULF official trailer (directed by Robert Eggers and shot by Jarin Blaschke) through a cinematographer's lens, breaking down the lighting, color, framing, and composition techniques that make this movie feel so immersive and unsettling. I'm so excited for this film—every frame in this trailer is a masterclass.

We explore how the film utilizes an orthochromatic color palette, how vertical composition serves the story, and how period-authentic lighting transports you directly into the 13th century.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
0:35 - Sharp yet complimentary overcast lighting
1:54 - No red = weird facial contrast
2:54 - How to pull off hard moonlight
4:30 - Film grain in the midtones
5:04 - Vertical composition
6:36 - Lens choices for low lighting
8:20 - Eyelines reveal intention
9:12 - Candles in the eyes / authentic lighting
9:47 - Color tinting & camera movement
10:42 - Creepy trees and imposing angles
11:25 - Perfect moonlight exposure
13:39 - Symbolism in the light design
14:58 - Painterly edges
15:22 - It's not black and white
16:04 - Movement & intentionality
17:15 - Moonlight in the eyeball
19:06 - Key takeaway’s / final thoughts
22:34 - Thank you for the support !

Correction:
0:02 - TRAILER* IS OUT!

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#Werwulf #Cinematography #TrailerReaction #Filmmaking #RobertEggers #JarinBlaschke

20 Comments

@bluesslider76 1 month ago

Man, he just knocked it out of the park with every movie he does. I cannot wait to see his take on a werewolf.

@Sir-Rat-of-The-Rot 1 month ago

Eggers is my favorite director of this era. I’m super excited to see this movie in theaters! Btw you deserve more views and subscribers.

@RikiBMalo 1 month ago (edited)

4:09 Considering Nosferatu got an Oscar nomination for a novel method to shoot day-for-night, I suspect they used that same method here (and you couldn't tell the difference). They had a customized lens filter that only lets the same wavelengths of color visible under moonlight through, which results in a bright teal image. And then they desaturate the teal digitally until it is indistinguishable from a legitimate night shoot. They obviously also diffuse the sun to make it less harsh too.

@chaseusername 2 days ago

First of all great video. Truly so well made. I really loved your point at the end around 19:42 about how the boxy aspect ratio is a great fit and how human eyes naturally look left to right. I couldn’t agree more, and to add on to that idea, the boxier aspect ratio is great cause it almost simulates this tunnel vision feeling, tunnel vision is often triggered by high stress and fear, this forces the audience to focus in on what’s going on, it’s the ultimate way to get the viewers attention, it’s like a center stage for the peril on screen. Especially when combined with the scenes at night, since it’s very dark ambient lighting for the night scenes it’s literally like a tunnel vision view that reflects what the main character might experience, after all, this movie is about being cursed and absolute damnation. We get to see this abhorrent monster through the eyes of a man that doesn’t seek any harm, he’s simply chained to an unfaithful destiny. And it becomes ever-more daunting with the aspect ratio, lighting and more. (And the sound design sounds peak too).

@patwestergard4252 1 month ago

I can’t wait to see this movie. Eggers continues to crack our skulls with violent excellence.

@ebukde2361 1 month ago

I fell in love with Eggers and Blaschke from the first shot i have seen. They are two true artists, Blaschke's photography is so gorgeous and it serves the story perfectly.

@olcoshoots 1 month ago

Would love to see a breakdown of the new PrimeTime trailer. I love the visual choices used

@TheXanoks 1 month ago

Dude I was genuinely surprised when I was watching the video, scrolled down and saw you only have a thousand subs, your production quality is so good, your insight and knowledge is incredible, you deserve a lot more recognition!

@RocklinGraves 1 month ago

Incredible video dude. I'm ravenous for this movie and this is definitely one of the most substantive videos I've seen about it

@IloveGorgeousGeorge 2 days ago

Goddamn, now THIS is the type of video I come to YouTube looking for. And Werewulf is EXACTLY the type of werewolf movie I've been desperate for for years, it's exactly what my mind imagines when I think about werewolves.

I want it to be a dirty, grimy, bloody, gorey, disgusting, vicious creature that's insanely strong and savage, a la the Vigge Wolf from Joe Abercrombie's The Devils.

@patrickbaier_films 1 hour ago

Great breakdown. Very insightful. Thank you! 💎

@anthonypc-248 1 month ago

great point about how a more vertically tight frame can make our cautious vision feel trapped,
because we naturally would want to scan horizontally for danger.

Maybe if we were a species that had more to fear from predators in the sky, we'd feel more paranoid of a wide aspect ration with black bars on top and bottom.

@ebukde2361 1 month ago

9:14 i bet that shot is openly inspired by Ivan's Childhood, by Tarkovsky. They look very similar.

@norcyconstanza1050 1 month ago

I cannot wait for this film! I keep rewatching the trailer like a werewolf-bitten maniac. I’m so hyped for this movie. Great analysis video, bro! I needed my Eggers fix

@spritedrink7617 1 month ago

I'm a college student working my way up to get a degree in this feild, this is my first video from you and it's so amazing!! I'd love to learn more from you as a kind of indirect teacher lol