Admit it! You’ve gazed up at a full moon at least once and wondered if one of “them” was hunting and preying in the nearby shadows. Although they are inherently steeped in mythology and urban lore, werewolves could very well exist. I’ve never personally encountered one but I’m not about to dismiss that possibility. Anything is possible…right?! Even if they are merely a fable, the concept of their presence sends waves of tremors through our mortal vessels. They are primal, and terrifyingly brutal creatures.
The werewolf often gets neglected and misconceived in its cinematic representation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a staunch vampire advocate all the way but, I’m also a Lycan enthusiast and, the ravenous beast is rightfully deserving of his (or her) place on the podium. There are obviously some lacklustre contributions in this subgenre but, there are also some pretty decent ones so I’m looking at a handful of films that belong in both divisions.
Werewolves are humans that transmogrify into animal form. They can be born of it or turned when bitten by one. What is it that we find so appealing about these creatures that are referenced in medieval history texts? (Just another point in the “werewolves are real” column) It’s likely because they represent the animalistic nature that’s deeply repressed by many of us. They are cunning, they are fast, and they are ferocious. Super-human strength heightened senses and the ability to walk amongst us unrecognised in their human form. What is not appealing about all of that?!
There are a plethora of werewolf movies available for consumption, but there needs to be a plethora more. Here are a couple of those titles to check out.
Cursed (2005): Before the naysayers get on their soapbox and rant about this movie, I will address that elephant in the room. Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson joined forces again and set out to make an R rated movie because they were contracted to do that, but the Weinstein’s (Dimension Films) had the film cut to pieces, (butchered actually) and it became a very reduced, PG-13 result. So, all their challenging work and the what-would-have-been (undoubtedly) superb Craven/Williamson carnage content was removed from the final release, leaving audiences with a condensed, sugary ‘horror’ picture. Now, that aside, Cursed is still an entertaining and fun ride. The cast is fantastic, and the humour is decent. Christina Ricci is always a drawcard, and she brings a tangible vulnerability and authenticity to the role of Ellie who is the guardian of her teenage brother Jimmy played by Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network). Plot- While driving home one night, Ellie and Jimmy hit an exceptionally large animal which causes them to run another vehicle off the road and crash. While attempting to pull the driver from the vehicle, both siblings are slashed by the beast who then drags the woman off into the night and tears her in half. This should have set the tone for the film instead it fell short as it continued. Ellie and Jimmy begin to ‘change’ and while Jimmy believes and embraces his impending metamorphosis, Ellie dismisses and opposes it. As I mentioned, there are some highly enjoyable moments in the movie. Joshua Jackson is perfectly cast as Ellie’s boyfriend Jake who is equal parts charming and cagey. Judy Greer is impeccable as Joanie, Ellie’s bitchy publicist ‘friend’ who we later learn, previously had a one-night stand with Jake and has become extremely vitriolic because of his rejection of her. There are also a few fantastic cameos throughout the film. Though the narrative is obvious, and the outcome is foreseeable, this movie would have really flourished if left intact. Nonetheless, decent werewolf flicks are hard to come by so Cursed is worth a watch.
Dog Soldiers (2002): When I first watched this movie years ago, I was not expecting much more than a low budget British indie film. But it is so much more than that! It’s an action-packed, fantastic werewolf gem. The film sticks to the fundamentals of the formula. There are full moons, dark isolated landscapes and huge, horrifying beasts that want nothing more than to mangle and shred as many humans as possible. This is a great movie! It’s a werewolf movie… and it’s great! It contains a lot of humour that is paralleled superbly with some real, bonafide gore. The plot- A battalion of British soldiers is on a training mission in the Scottish Highlands to meet up with a Special Ops team. They discover a sole survivor, the captain of the unit who is wounded severely and very soon after this, their group is attacked. A zoologist named Emma saves them and they take refuge in an abandoned farmhouse where Emma reveals to the soldiers that the creatures that are hunting them are in fact, Werewolves. The uniqueness of this film is that it doesn’t just lean on the typical structure of the genre but expands upon it. Instead of the singular predator, it’s a pack that hunts and taunts its prey. The prey just happens to be a heavily armed and highly trained band of mercenaries. What results is a bloodbath of a thoroughly entertaining magnitude. Without giving away the film’s end, there is a “tasty” little plot twist that ties up an already fantastic gift with a neat and shiny little bow.
Red Riding Hood (2011): I am a fan of director Catherine Hardwicke (except for that RIDICULOUS ‘vampire’ movie she directed in 2008). This film is beautifully shot, and the cast is quite an impressive ensemble. It did not fare well when it came out but, honestly, I think it’s an extremely underrated production. It is visually spectacular but, it also delivers a refreshing and entertaining adaptation of a much-loved, gothic fairytale. Quick synopsis: Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) lives in the small village of Daggerhorn with her mother Suzette, father Cesaire and older sister Lucille. Valerie is in love with woodcutter Peter but is promised to the wealthy Henry. A giant scary wolf mauls Lucille and terrorises the villagers resulting in the local priest calling upon the infamous witch hunter Father Solomon (Gary Oldman). As the narrative unravels, the question of the wolf’s identity becomes more ambivalent and Valerie herself begins to suspect those she trusts most intimately. There are many who believe that this film is a “carbon copy” of Hardwicke’s earlier work, but that is simply untrue. This movie should be viewed as an individual piece. It’s an interesting reworking of a storybook classic. Gary Oldman is superb as the acrimonious and highly suspicious minister and Seyfried is equally impressive in her role. So, it isn’t a great movie but, what you need to remember when you’re watching it is that it IS a fairytale and, fairytales are supposed to be a little artificial and cliched. The soundtrack is fantastic, and the wolf’s presence is aptly intimidating. You will be second-guessing the wolf’s identity for at least half of the film, which is a plus really. Red Riding Hood won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but, as that old saying goes… “Haters gonna hate.”
Bloodthirsty (2020): This Canadian psychological horror is a unique example of how to engage an audience using tension and trepidation. The plot- Grey Kessler is an Indie pop musician who has dreams/hallucinations that she’s a wolf. Seeking to record a successful follow-up album, she teams up with notorious music producer Vaughn Daniels and heads off to his countryside estate, with her girlfriend Charlie [despite learning that Vaughn was accused of murdering his previous protege Greta.] The film lacks the slaughtering that is typically associated with this subgenre and only gives us snippets of Grey’s capabilities as she satiates her cravings by feeding on animal flesh. [WARNING: if you love critters and are squeamish, don’t watch those parts] The agitation is facilitated by Grey’s relationship with Vaughn, and he bolsters her urges while driving a wedge between her and Charlie all while becoming the apparent sociopath we’ve anticipated him to be. Though the film is negligent in the action department, it does provide an interesting and mostly sustainable premise. The conclusion is predictable and prosaic, but this film is chiefly performance-driven and, those performances are sound. Grey’s decline into madness is discernible and odd and her transformation is both psychological and physical. It’s just a shame that the physical aspect of that evolution takes so long to manifest within the narrative. As a horror film, it is not very ‘horrifying’. As a werewolf film…well it’s much the same there too. Bloodthirsty is an unusual and curious attempt to recondition the brand that just doesn’t quite manage to completely succeed. Most werewolf films have bite whereas this simply just nibbles.