Why Only 1 Item In Marvel’s Werewolf By Night Is In Color

Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for Werewolf by Night!

Marvel’s Werewolf by Night is almost entirely in black and white, as the Bloodstone’s red light is the only form of color. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is routinely criticized for many of their movies and TV shows looking the same, but Werewolf by Night is truly unique among the rest of Marvel Studios’ content. The bright colors of Thor: Ragnarok or even the desaturated look of Captain America: Civil War are stark contrasts to the black and white look of Werewolf by Night. The Disney+ Special Presentation is almost entirely devoid of color, as there is only 1 item that features color throughout the majority of the runtime.

The Bloodstone is the main focus of Werewolf by Night‘s scary story, as the chance to claim ownership of it is what helped gather a group of talented hunters. The black and white visuals work perfectly for Marvel’s horror special as a way to pay homage to the 1930s and 1940s monster movies that inspired it. But Werewolf by Night does feature color whenever the Bloodstone is shown on screen. The red light that illuminates from the weapon is always on display. The special does not explain why the Bloodstone’s red is the only form of color in Werewolf by Night, but it is likely partially the result of director Michael Giacchino wanting to emphasize how special the weapon is. In the comics, the Bloodstone is a rare and powerful gem created by Marvel gods to take over universes and is tied to all magic in the universe. By making it the only item in Werewolf by Night to be in color, viewers and hunters alike keep their attention fixed on the Bloodstone.

The Bloodstone’s Red Coloring Emphasizes Its Importance

The Bloodstone’s red color in Werewolf by Night is a clever way for the special to further emphasize just how important it is to the story and MCU at large. Viewers are likely to think about Scarlet Witch’s Chaos Magic when the red glow appears. Considering the comics’ version of the Bloodstone is the conduit for the Hellfire Helix, a point where all magical energies much pass through, the emphasis on its red coloring could further signify its connection to Scarlet Witch. Furthermore, it ensures that the Bloodstone’s presence is always known to viewers and Werewolf by Night‘s characters.

Beyond its potential connections to various types of MCU magic, the decision to make the Bloodstone be in color while the rest of Werewolf by Night is in color copies a trick from Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List. The powerful and award-winning movie about Jews in World War II is entirely black and white except for the red coat of a little girl. Spielberg used the color trick to put even more emphasis on the Holocaust and its impact on the life of this young child. Werewolf by Night‘s red Bloodstone might not have the same thematic resonance, but it does have a massive role to play in the narrative still.

Did The Bloodstone Make Werewolf By Night Black & White?

The black and white look vanishes during Werewolf by Night‘s ending, as everything turns to color in the closing moments, and the Bloodstone could be responsible. It is only after Elsa Bloodstone gains possession of the weapon that color returns. The true extent of the Bloodstone’s power in the MCU is unknown, but it could have reality-altering powers that allowed someone else to turn the world black and white. It is more likely that Werewolf by Night‘s color returning in the end is more of a stylistic choice but the possibility of the Bloodstone playing a role in the original black and white look cannot be discounted.