Werewolf Winter: The Howling (1981)

1981 was apparently the year for werewolf films that reference the 1941 The Wolf Man in detail and also have groundbreaking special effects. In fact, Rick Baker, who was originally hired and started planning the effects for The Howling, actually left the production to go work on An American Werewolf in London. I already thought that John Landis's film was clever and well done. So, how does The Howling stack up?

Werewolf Winter: An American Werewolf in London (1981)

It's amazing what time can do for the horror movie genre. Forty years after The Wolf Man and twenty years after Curse of the Werewolf, Universal Films released yet another werewolf film: An American Werewolf in London. This film seems to be the last werewolf film Universal (knowingly or unknowingly) released in perfect 20 year increments, but at least it's amazing enough to hold us over...

Werewolf Winter: The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

After the last disaster of a werewolf movie, I waited with baited breath as the opening credits for The Curse of the Werewolf began to roll. Then I saw two phrases in blocky text: Hammer Studios and Universal Pictures. Oh, my excellent good friends! I gave a big sigh of relief because surely these two companies would know how to combine their powers for a good werewolf film.

Werewolf Winter: I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)

Wow. Just.... wow. If the original The Wolf Man was much better than I had expected, the 1950's B-movie classic I Was a Teenage Werewolf is so, so much worse.

Werewolf Winter: The Wolf Man (1941)

To begin this new series of reviews, we're starting with the Universal Studios classic: The Wolf Man. I had never seen this film before, though I am well acquainted with both Universal's Dracula and their influential but badly adapted Frankenstein, so I was prepared for a solid movie that felt a bit dated and obvious, something clearly a product of its time.

I have never been more happy to be mistaken! With powerful acting from both Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. (son of the famous silent film actor), as well as a slow build of tension and mood, The Wolf Man is by far the most elegant of the Universal monster films and one which holds up quite well today.