Aaron Taylor-Johnson steps into the darkness again for Robert Eggers’ ‘Werwulf,’ a 13th-century England werewolf horror that promises bone-crunching intensity—built as a reunion with Eggers and a Christmas Day release plan.
The first trailer for Robert Eggers’ “Werwulf” doesn’t ease you in—it dares you to look closer.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, returning to Eggers’ world after starring in his 2024 reimagining of “Nosferatu,” is at the center of the nightmare. Eggers’ gnarly. pitch-black horror follow-up pairs Taylor-Johnson with a roster of past collaborators. including Willem Dafoe. Lily-Rose Depp. and Ralph Ineson. Eggers has also teamed again with returning cinematographer Jarin Blaschke. and this new werewolf feature was co-written by Eggers and Icelandic poet and writer Sjón—who also co-penned Eggers’ 2022 Norse action epic “The Northman.”.
The trailer leans hard into old-school dread. with imagery reminiscent of the Silent Era and enough bone-crunching sound effects to make you squirm even as you watch. Together. those choices position “Werwulf” as a potential high-water mark for visceral. big-screen horror from a filmmaker already known for pushing boundaries.
“Werwulf” is set centuries in the past, landing in 13th-century England. The story follows a cursed farmer whose affliction drives the film’s queasy horror. Focus Features describes it as “a harrowing tale of devotion, damnation and the devil within.”
That devotional, doomed vibe is more than marketing language in Eggers’ hands. It also connects to his recent track record with Focus. The studio and Eggers previously collaborated on both “The Northman” and “Nosferatu. ” and it’s now preparing to release “Werwulf” on Christmas Day in the States—an obvious move to build momentum the way it did with “Nosferatu.” That earlier film grossed nearly $182 million at the worldwide box office on a $50 million budget.
Eggers has been even more direct about the kind of darkness he’s aiming for. In 2025, he said “Werwulf” was “the darkest thing I’ve ever written by far.” The first trailer, which you can check out in the teasers embedded above, suggests he isn’t backing off that promise.
“Werwulf” is set to hit theaters on Dec. 25.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Robert Eggers Werwulf Willem Dafoe Lily-Rose Depp Ralph Ineson Jarin Blaschke Sjón Nosferatu The Northman Focus Features Christmas Day release horror trailer