Silver Bullet
Performance & Direction: Silver Bullet Review
Last updated: February 15, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Silver Bullet (1985) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.6/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Horror.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and Silver Bullet features a noteworthy lineup led by Gary Busey . Supported by the likes of Everett McGill and Tovah Feldshuh , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Silver Bullet
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1985, Silver Bullet is a Horror film directed by Dan Attias. The narrative crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Gary Busey.
Story Breakdown
The horror unfolds through carefully crafted atmosphere and escalating dread. The small city of Tarker's Mills is startled by a series of sadistic murders. The population fears the work of a maniac, but sightings of a mysterious, hairy creature soon spread. People lock themselves up at night, but there's one boy who's still outside… Director Dan Attias uses both psychological terror and visceral scares, building tension through what's unseen as much as what's shown. The pacing allows for breathing room between scares, making each frightening moment more effective.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: An unsettling prologue sets the ominous tone, hinting at the terror to come while establishing the rules of this world.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Gary Busey's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The final act escalates the terror to its peak, forcing characters to confront the source of horror directly.
Ending Explained: Silver Bullet
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Dan Attias, Silver Bullet concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to horror resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions involving Gary Busey, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the horror themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Silver Bullet reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Silver Bullet?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Horror films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Gary Busey or the director
- Want a few scares and creepy atmosphere
Box Office Collection: Silver Bullet
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $7.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $12.4M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Silver Bullet Budget
The estimated production budget for Silver Bullet is $7.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Silver Bullet
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Where to Watch Silver Bullet Online?
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Fandango At HomeSilver Bullet Parents Guide & Age Rating
1985 AdvisoryWondering about Silver Bullet age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Silver Bullet is 95 minutes (1h 35m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.6/10, and global performance metrics, Silver Bullet is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1985 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silver Bullet worth watching?
Silver Bullet is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Horror movies. It has a verified rating of 6.6/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Silver Bullet parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Silver Bullet identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Silver Bullet?
The total duration of Silver Bullet is 95 minutes, which is approximately 1h 35m long.
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Critic Reviews for Silver Bullet
What makes this movie a winner to me is that the Boogeyman can be anyone; and usually is the person we want to trust in the most outside of a Supreme Higher power than ourselves; this movie is great because, it shares a great bond and obligation between siblings and family, with family support, open-mindedness, and will; brings back that old saying; If there's a will there's a way. Well thought out from the beginning to the end. Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quaint comic book werewolf flick by Stephen King RELEASED IN 1985 and directed by Daniel Attias, "Silver Bullet" chronicles events in a small town in Eastern America when a ferocious werewolf starts picking people off one-by-one. Corey Haim and Megan Follows play the adolescent brother/sister protagonists, the boy being a paraplegic. Gary Busey appears as the amiable alcoholic uncle while Robin Groves plays the mother. Everett McGill is on hand as a prominent minister while Terry O'Quinn appears as the sheriff. Stephen King wrote both the novella and the screenplay and so the movie has the comic book vibe of movies based on King’s works. The townspeople are unsurprisingly cartoonish, but the main family is well done, i.e. realistic. In any case, “Silver Bullet” seems quaint compared to the three werewolf flicks of 1981: “The Howling,” “An American Werewolf in London” and “Wolfen” (of course the latter wasn’t strictly a werewolf flick, if at all). Nevertheless, I appreciate the old fashioned take on the subject and the warmth of the family members. The werewolf is Grade B when fully revealed, but certainly formidable. The film conveys cinematic stereotypes, like the goodhearted drunk (or prostitute) and the corrupt civic leader, who puts on a fake smile for the community while being a savage beast within. Although there’s some truth to these depictions, most of the time a drunkard is an alcoholic because his/her heart is desperately flawed. And the bulk of respected community leaders aren’t evil incarnate. Yet I like the way the movie shows how everything is not necessarily as it appears. THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour, 35 minutes and was shot in North Carolina (Burgaw, Leland, Wilmington, Castle Hayne and Carolina Beach). GRADE: B-/C+
Like a children's horror movie that still has some **actual** horror, Busey chews up _Silver Bullet_ hard, because of course he does, but it was still pretty enjoyable. If you **are** feeling a retro sort a deal, I can recommend it, not strongly, but there's a mood you can be in where _Silver Bullet_ is much appreciated. _Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._
Better than its reputation. Warning: Spoilers Silver Bullet is directed by Daniel Attias and adapted for the screen by Stephen King from his own novelette "Cycle Of The Werewolf". It stars Gary Busey, Corey Haim, Megan Follows, Everett McGill & Terry O'Quinn. The film is set in the small rural town of Tarker's Mills, Maine, which falls prey to a series of grizzly murders. At first the killings are believed to be the work of a mad man, with the town ready to take up vigilante arms against the perpetrator, but young wheelchair bound Marty (Haim) is convinced something more lupine like is responsible. As most folks know, Stephen King's adaptations to screen are a mixed bunch. Some have been tackled by top line directors such as Kubrick, De Palma, Cronenberg, Reiner & Darabont, while others have been turned out by no marks where the quality befits the low production value. Silver Bullet falls somewhere in the middle on the quality list of King adapted movies. Its reputation is somewhat Luke warm, and whilst it's a little understandable when put up against other 1980's film's in the werewolf pantheon (An American Werewolf In London, The Howling & The Company Of Wolves), it does have a high entertainment value. Of note, too, is that it's not shy in the dark department either. There's mutilated children, a pregnant woman tore to shreds, car attack on our crippled hero, while some of the characterisations are also interesting - such as an alcoholic uncle (a wonderfully OTT Busey) & the mean hick bar dwellers who raise the spectre of vigilantism. True, the film is also dotted with cheese, but there's fun in that too. I don't know if some of the laughs were intentional or not, but I like to think so. How else can you react to a werewolf that takes up a baseball bat to fell one of his attackers? That's surely meant to be funny, no? It is also not taxing of the brain to work out who the hairy beast is in human form, because, like, the makers gives us the clues. I really don't think they were trying to spring a big surprise on us. Cast wise it's the usual array of mixed performers. Haim is likable, particularly in the scenes with the afore mentioned Busey, O'Quinn adds professionalism, while McGill is always value for money when playing important members of the community. Tis fun too seeing future "Reservoir Dog" leader Lawrence Tierney putting his gruff stamp over the bar room proceedings. So not one for the technical and artistry seeking purists then, but definitely one for those looking for a good bit of werewolf tear em' up that comes with a tasty slice of 1980s cheese. 7/10
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.










