Werewolves are human beings for most of the month, but watch out for the full moon, when they grow full body hair, run in packs and have a desire to feed.
Unfortunately, most werewolf films are not even worth renting on DVD. Whether it's from low budget special effects, bad scripts or even worse acting, lycanthrope films are plentiful, but the good ones can be hard to find. The following are among the best of the lot.
Better have some silver on hand for watching these films.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
The plot centers around two Americans who are attacked while traveling on a walking tour through the UK. One doesn't survive, but while the other does, he's badly mauled. The survivor starts having nightmares and then finds out that even though he's still alive, he's not quite human anymore.
This movie really revolutionized how werewolves were portrayed on the screen, especially in showing the transformation process up close. It's also quite gory, so it's not recommended for the kids.
- Director: John Landis
- Writer: John Landis
- Cast: David Naughton; Griffin Dunne; Jenny Agutter
- MPAA Rating: R
Dog Soldiers (2002)
A British military squad, on a training mission in the Scottish Highlands, comes across the bloody remains of the Special Ops team they were supposed to be hunting down. They then find themselves under attack from wolf-like creatures. Taking refuge in a nearby cabin, they meet a woman who seems to know everything about what attacked them. Can the team survive the night?
This low-budget werewolf movie has just the right amount of plot and action to overlook some small faults. It's also full of gore and mayhem. A great addition to the werewolf genre of horror films.
- Director: Neil Marshall
- Writer: Neil Marshall
- Cast: Kevin McKidd; Sean Pertwee; Emma Cleasby
- MPAA Rating: R
Ginger Snaps (2000)
The Fitzgerald sisters are two teen goths who like to take morbid photos and home movies in their spare time. One night, Ginger (the elder of the two), is attacked by a werewolf. That night is not only a full moon, but Ginger's first night of puberty. As her sister Brigitte starts to realize what is happening, she races to try to save Ginger before she kills everyone around them.
This is not your typical werewolf film. As the wolf transformations begin, the film uses them to parallel Ginger's changes into womanhood. But all that aside, there is plenty of gore and scares to keep horror fans happy.
- Director: John Fawcett
- Writers: Karen Walton; John Fawcett
- Cast: Emily Perkins; Katharine Isabelle; Kris Lemche
- MPAA Rating: Unrated
Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004)
Set in 19th century Canada, orphaned teen sisters Ginger and Brigette seek refuge at a trader's fort that comes under attack by a pack of werewolves. After Ginger is bitten, Brigette and a Native American hunter try to save her and themselves from certain death at the hands of the pack.
In an interesting twist, this third installment in the Ginger Snaps series takes the same characters of Ginger and Brigette (same actresses as well) but transports them back a few centuries. This film also is a more straight-forward horror film, doing away with the werewolf/puberty correlations that drove most of the first film. There is still a high level of gore, though some of the fort's characters aren't as well-rounded as one would like.
- Director: Grant Harvey
- Writers: Christina Ray; Stephen Massicotte
- Cast: Emily Perkins; Katharine Isabelle; Nathaniel Arcand
- MPAA Rating: Unrated
The Howling (1981)
Investigating what is thought to be a serial killer, a news woman has a near fatal mauling. She is sent to a rehabilitation center, where it becomes clear the other patients have more issues than first thought... especially when the moon is full.
By today's standards, the monster make-up may look a bit cheap, but back then, they were pretty groundbreaking. This film and An American Werewolf in London helped launch the werewolf movie craze in the 80s and it still remains a solid horror film, if a bit dated.
- Director: Joe Dante
- Writers: Gary Brandner; John Sayles
- Cast: Dee Wallace; Patrick Macnee; Dennis Dugan
- MPAA Rating: R
The Wolfman (2010)
Lawrence Talbot is lured from America back to his family estate in Europe, to investigate the savage murder of his brother. While there, Talbot must also contend with his estranged father, his brother's grieving fiancee, and a Scotland Yard inspector. His problems are only beginning though. He is then bitten by the creature who murdered his brother and finds himself cursed with becoming a werewolf, too.
Set in the VIctorian ages, this remake of 1941's The Wolf Man is a throwback to the early days of the monster movies, where the film took its time to build the suspense and the story. That's not to say this doesn't have the modern horror updates of lots of violence and gore, but it doesn't have the quick thrills and instant gratification kill scenes today's horror usually incorporates. The patient watcher of this will enjoy a film with rich, well-done performances and find it a good addition to the werewolf film library.
- Director: Joe Johnston
- Writers: Andrew Kevin Walker; David Self
- Cast: Benicio Del Toro; Anthony Hopkins; Emily Blunt; Hugo Weaving
- MPAA Rating: R
Michelle Snow - Michelle Snow been a freelance journalist and photographer for over twenty years, specializing in travel and entertainment. She got her ...
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