Written as part of the weekly blogathon hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Join us - I promise we won't bite - by picking three movies that fit the week's theme and telling us about them.
Quick and dirty this week, as I haven't really seen many films involving werewolves.
The Wolf Man (George Waggner, 1941) What's most surprising about this Universal monster movie is that the titular beastie doesn't really appear for much of it. But Claude Rains and Lon Chaney, Jr. give the film the gravitas it needs to work on a level deeper than the script displays on the surface.
Teen Wolf (Rod Daniel, 1985) An essential piece of '80s pop culture, this undeniably fun Michael J. Fox-starrer works much better as a teen flick than a horror, even a horror-comedy, film.
Cat People (Val Lewton, 1942) Val Lewton was the king of doing a lot with a little, and Cat People is a perfect example of that (so much so that I'm not entirely sure it really fits this week's theme). We never see the mysterious monster stalking poor Simone Simon, but this is the genesis of that old horror trope "the person walking alone at night who hears something walking behind them that stops when they stop," and damn if it isn't effective.
Love Cat people although not sure if it fits either but I'm all for bending the rules:) It is eerie and all done with suggestion. You must be more of a cat person:) Teen wolf just looks silly which is how i remember it when it came out back in the 80's. I picked The Wolfman also. I just love Maria Ouspenskaya. Claude Rains always makes a film that much better. I love seeing trailers from years ago because it is so different now.
The Wolf Man is of course the genesis of this type of film and lordy what a cast! Claude Rains makes anything better and if it was just him that would be enough to seek this out but Lon Chaney, Jr., Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi, scream queen Evelyn Ankers and a personal favorite Warren William are all bonuses with Maria Ouspenskaya the cherry on top! The effects are hopelessly dated but it's still a decent film.
Teen Wolf is goofy fun, utterly preposterous but Michael J. Fox is so winning in the lead. I watched the totally unrelated MTV show for a couple of seasons, I was expecting something along the lines of this film which it wasn't but it hooked me for a while until it became too dark.
Cat People is an interesting pick, a bit of a stretch but nothing wrong with that. It took me a while to finally catch it a couple of years ago. I liked but didn't love it, Lewton found ways to work his budget restrictions to his advantage though.
I ended up with a mini theme within the theme, I didn't plan it that way but the early 80's were when the theatres were loaded with werewolf movies it seems since every one I could think of was from that period.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)-Inventive, fun/sad twist on the old werewolf legend. A couple of young Americans are backpacking through the English countryside when they are attacked by a wolf and one of them is killed…or so it seems. The surviving young man comes out of a coma in a London hospital unsure of what’s happened. Suddenly his now dead and quite mutilated friend appears to inform him that they were attacked by a werewolf and unless he kills himself by the next full moon he will become one too. Then there’s also the problem that his friend and any other victims can’t rest until he dead. He doesn’t believe him but then the full moon rises. Scares, and a fair amount of nudity, leavened with humor and Oscar winning makeup.
Ladyhawke (1985)-A young thief played by Matthew Broderick escapes from a dungeon in medieval France. While on the run he befriends Captain Navarre, also a fugitive and discovers that he and his beloved the Lady Isabeau, Michelle Pfeiffer, are cursed by the evil Bishop who pursues them. During the day she becomes a hawk and he transforms into a werewolf at night so they only catch a glimpse of each other at dusk. Navarre recruits the young man to help him try and free them both from the curse.
The Company of Wolves (1984)-Director Neil Jordan adds elements of mystery, dream imagery, werewolves and a slight sexual twist to this adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood that has Angela Lansbury as Grandmother.
Honorable Mention-Silver Bullet (1985)-When a small town is plagued by horrible killings and mutilations the townfolk begin to think it may be a monster doing the killings. A small handicapped boy comes in contact with the werewolf and with his older sister and uncle set out on a search for the monster. What they discover will be shocking. Good, tense compact chiller with a standout performance by Gary Busey as the uncle.
American Werewolf in London and Company of Wolves are both ones I want to see. I'm kicking myself right now for not picking Ladyhawke. I have a thing for those weirdo 80s swords-and-sorcery movies. and GOD if Michelle Pfeiffer isn't the most beautiful she ever was in this. I didn't think Broderick really fit into the period well, though.
I also picked Teen Wolf, plus I love the "The Wolfman." Not sure "Cat People" fits. Of course, I haven't actually seen it. I'm going on my intimate knowledge of the hyper-sexualized 1982 remake.
I REALLY want to see the '82 Cat People. The '40s version is good, but it's BARELY a horror movie. The legend of the cat people is werewolf-y, which is why I chose it, but the whole thing is about her fear that she is one and since it was the 40s we never really see anything actually happen.
I haven't seen your oldie picks. I'm not even sure I've seen Teen Wolf. It may just been referenced so much in pop culture that I just feel like I've seen it without actually seeing it.
Love Cat people although not sure if it fits either but I'm all for bending the rules:) It is eerie and all done with suggestion. You must be more of a cat person:) Teen wolf just looks silly which is how i remember it when it came out back in the 80's. I picked The Wolfman also. I just love Maria Ouspenskaya. Claude Rains always makes a film that much better. I love seeing trailers from years ago because it is so different now.
ReplyDeleteHehehe I totally am more of a cat person than a dog person. LOVE old-school trailers, too. So much different than today.
DeleteThe Wolf Man is of course the genesis of this type of film and lordy what a cast! Claude Rains makes anything better and if it was just him that would be enough to seek this out but Lon Chaney, Jr., Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi, scream queen Evelyn Ankers and a personal favorite Warren William are all bonuses with Maria Ouspenskaya the cherry on top! The effects are hopelessly dated but it's still a decent film.
ReplyDeleteTeen Wolf is goofy fun, utterly preposterous but Michael J. Fox is so winning in the lead. I watched the totally unrelated MTV show for a couple of seasons, I was expecting something along the lines of this film which it wasn't but it hooked me for a while until it became too dark.
Cat People is an interesting pick, a bit of a stretch but nothing wrong with that. It took me a while to finally catch it a couple of years ago. I liked but didn't love it, Lewton found ways to work his budget restrictions to his advantage though.
I ended up with a mini theme within the theme, I didn't plan it that way but the early 80's were when the theatres were loaded with werewolf movies it seems since every one I could think of was from that period.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)-Inventive, fun/sad twist on the old werewolf legend. A couple of young Americans are backpacking through the English countryside when they are attacked by a wolf and one of them is killed…or so it seems. The surviving young man comes out of a coma in a London hospital unsure of what’s happened. Suddenly his now dead and quite mutilated friend appears to inform him that they were attacked by a werewolf and unless he kills himself by the next full moon he will become one too. Then there’s also the problem that his friend and any other victims can’t rest until he dead. He doesn’t believe him but then the full moon rises. Scares, and a fair amount of nudity, leavened with humor and Oscar winning makeup.
Ladyhawke (1985)-A young thief played by Matthew Broderick escapes from a dungeon in medieval France. While on the run he befriends Captain Navarre, also a fugitive and discovers that he and his beloved the Lady Isabeau, Michelle Pfeiffer, are cursed by the evil Bishop who pursues them. During the day she becomes a hawk and he transforms into a werewolf at night so they only catch a glimpse of each other at dusk. Navarre recruits the young man to help him try and free them both from the curse.
The Company of Wolves (1984)-Director Neil Jordan adds elements of mystery, dream imagery, werewolves and a slight sexual twist to this adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood that has Angela Lansbury as Grandmother.
Honorable Mention-Silver Bullet (1985)-When a small town is plagued by horrible killings and mutilations the townfolk begin to think it may be a monster doing the killings. A small handicapped boy comes in contact with the werewolf and with his older sister and uncle set out on a search for the monster. What they discover will be shocking. Good, tense compact chiller with a standout performance by Gary Busey as the uncle.
Yeah, I didn't LOVE Cat People, but it was good.
DeleteAmerican Werewolf in London and Company of Wolves are both ones I want to see. I'm kicking myself right now for not picking Ladyhawke. I have a thing for those weirdo 80s swords-and-sorcery movies. and GOD if Michelle Pfeiffer isn't the most beautiful she ever was in this. I didn't think Broderick really fit into the period well, though.
I also picked Teen Wolf, plus I love the "The Wolfman." Not sure "Cat People" fits. Of course, I haven't actually seen it. I'm going on my intimate knowledge of the hyper-sexualized 1982 remake.
ReplyDeletehttp://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2012/10/cat-people-1982.html
I REALLY want to see the '82 Cat People. The '40s version is good, but it's BARELY a horror movie. The legend of the cat people is werewolf-y, which is why I chose it, but the whole thing is about her fear that she is one and since it was the 40s we never really see anything actually happen.
DeleteThe Wolfman, isn't it the original version of the similar title lately? Teen Wolf is a good pick (compared to the series, tho).
ReplyDeleteYes, this is the original. Haven't watched even one episode of the Teen Wolf series.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these. Werewolf movies aren't my thing either.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen your oldie picks. I'm not even sure I've seen Teen Wolf. It may just been referenced so much in pop culture that I just feel like I've seen it without actually seeing it.
ReplyDeleteLOL I know exactly what you mean. I actually may not have seen the whole thing either? At least, in one sitting from beginning to end. Maybe.
Delete