Reel Review: The Beast of Walton Street (2024)

The perfect witty and warm-hearted watch for the holiday season, “The Beast of Walton Street” is a fiercely fun take on the werewolf subgenre.

“Home Sweet Hell” reads the graffiti on the dumpster in the dingy Ohio Alleyway, where we see a homeless man get dragged away into the darkness. According to the local news, he is hardly the only one, with this local monster having over 35 of the “most violent murders in the city’s history.”

Dusty Austen’s The Beast of Walton Street is a fun indie romp throughout the desolate frozen winter scape of small-town Ohio. 

The film begins with Constance and Perry, two neurodivergent queer besties just trying to make it through the day. Perry (AKA Sketch) is dying of cancer.

The acting skills of both women are pretty solid, especially in the banter between them, including lots of dry humor. There are a few moments when the lines they are acting on are not so convincing, but it hits the target where it matters.

Soon, beneath the sparkling Christmas lights and freezing nights, the women find their common enemy: a werewolf, picking off the homeless population that they are a part of.

This is where the movie gets good.

In the style of An American Werewolf in London, The Beast of Walton Street also hides the werewolf from the viewer for most of the movie, showing bits of hair and teeth to keep the tension. While I am disappointed that there is no transformation scene, I completely understand that it is not always possible with a small budget. So, instead of butchering a good transformation scene, Austen decides to leave it out (a good choice, in my opinion). 

The cinematography is both cozy and bleak at the same time.

Perry and Constance’s home is warm and inviting, feeling very much like a safe haven for young women. However, the outside world is raw and terrifying, littered with the bodies of the local homeless and stray cats. This gives the film some great duality. 

The death scenes are few and far between, leaving a lot to the imagination. Again, this may be due to budget, which is understandable.

The gore, however, is prevalent and practical. One death scene is particularly brutal and triggers a series of events leading to the final showdown with the werewolf, which is well thought out and fun. I didn’t even know which side to root for because I liked them both so much.

The score is pretty simple but very well done, a classic move that makes this film come across as having a higher budget than it actually does. I also enjoyed the original music on the soundtrack. Fun rock and roll tunes to chase a werewolf to? Yes, please. 

There is a sense of general comradery among the homeless folks in this film, which adds to the welcoming nature of this film. There’s also a vigilante justice element that is very satisfying (without giving spoilers).

The Beast of Walton Street is a love letter to every outcast out there—be it queer, neurodivergent, or just a person that feels like they are forgotten and ignored by society.