Worst2First: My Top Ten Werewolf Films
Worst2First:
My Top Ten Werewolf Films
My Top Ten Werewolf Films
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#10
An American Werewolf in Paris
Based on the fact that I really haven't seen a lot of werewolf movies, it's a surprise to see this clunker on my top ten, but here we are. Somewhat a sequel to the iconic "An American Werewolf in London," this film finds another hapless American visiting Europe and getting scratched by a werewolf, and having to deal with the demons he's been given. The effects really don't hold up well, the acting is particularly not too great, but this is one of those films you can watch with your friends and have a good time making fun of it.#9
Wolf
The idea of a werewolf is sometimes an intrinsically romantic one, with the allure of a nocturnal beast coming out to play once the moon rises high, and "Wolf" is a look at a more sensual, romantic werewolf movie than others that rely on horror, blood, and guts. Directed by Mike Nichols (who is one of the few people in the world who's earned the EGOT - Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony), the film stars A-list celebrities Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader, Christopher Plummer, and Richard Jenkins and serves as an illustrious pedigree for a film that's somewhat campy and somewhat serious. Nicholson plays an editor who's bitten by a werewolf and changes into one himself, and in doing so it increases his confidence and abilities and falls for the seductive Laura, played by Pfeiffer. While there's still murder and mayhem, it's also a romance story with Nicholson's trademark performance that solidifies it.#8
Teen Wolf
Not all werewolf movies are scary and blood-filled, but some can be turned into a heartwarming, cheesy, coming-of-age film where you see a werewolf rocking out to "Surfin' USA." Michael J. Fox was all the rage in the 80s, and when his movie "Teen Wolf" premiered, it debuted at #2 only behind "Back to the Future," also starring Fox. Here, he stars as a 17-year-old loser who discovers that he's next in the line of a family of werewolves, and has to adjust becoming the beast within, with hilarious results. Definitely the most family-friendly werewolf film on the list, the movie ended up being so iconic that not only did it spur a sequel, but an MTV series that's much darker and serious. #7
The Wolfman
Focusing on the historical folklore of the werewolf, "The Wolfman" is a modern remake of the original Universal Studios feature, and while it was met with commercial failure, it went on to earn an Academy Award for Best Makeup. Benicio del Toro stars as an American actor who returns to his European homeland to find his missing brother, and gets scratched by a werewolf, turning him into one. Trying to resist the urge to kill, he still strikes out at night and the townspeople become fearful, while he tries to find a cure. Co-starring Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, and Hugo Weaving, the film is filled with moody atmospheric feels, effective effects, and top-notch performances. #6
Silver Bullet
Based off the novella Cycle of the Werewolf by the iconic Stephen King, "Silver Bullet" is a fantastic blend of teenage coming-of-age with the horrors of werewolf murders all mixed into a classic 80s bag. The film finds Corey Haim, who stars as a paraplegic kid who rides a personalized wheelchair/motorcycle hybrid he calls "Silver Bullet," coming into contact with werewolves in his small Maine town. Co-starring Gary Busey as the crazy uncle, "Silver Bullet" is filled with the cheesy 80s nostalgia you love to appreciate and also some decent kills and scares along the way.#5
Ginger Snaps
Turning the concept of the male werewolf on its head, "Ginger Snaps" focuses instead on a teenage girl who's attacked by a werewolf and finds the inner power within her when she turns into the nocturnal beast. The movie is a fantastic look at female empowerment and how the allure of being a werewolf can be intoxicating and powerful, turning former wallflower Ginger into a confident, strong woman - who just so happens to kill people as well. This pits her against her former best friend - her sister - as the two grow further and further apart, but still maintain the familial bonds. Several sequels have been spawned, but nothing beats the original.#4
Dog Soldiers
What George A. Romero did for zombies, director Neil Marshall did for werewolves. Comparisons between "Night of the Living Dead" and "Dog Soldiers" are easy to make - both feature a group of people who are holed up in a farmhouse while under constant attack from their namesakes (zombies, and werewolves). "Dog Soldiers" finds a group of soldiers who are trapped in a Scottish farmhouse while being barraged by deadly werewolves that pick them off one-by-one in fantastically gruesome ways. It includes a fantastic ensemble cast, stellar effects, and edge-of-your-seat chills and thrills - everything you could ask for in a werewolf film.#3
The Howling
1981 was a stellar year for werewolf movies, as "The Howling," "Wolfen," and "An American Werewolf in London" all premiered, and "The Howling" was often overshadowed by the latter's legendary status, but still not without its charms (it's also the longest-running werewolf franchise, with seven sequels under its belt). Directed by the great Joe Dante, the film finds a television newswoman who almost died at the hands of a serial killer traveling to a remote mountain resort to heal her fragile mental mind, but discovers that the resort is home to a gang of werewolves. Dee Wallace is one of the most underrated scream queens in cinema, and she gives another great performance here - along with state-of-the-art practical effects that are still unparalleled to this day.#2
The Wolf Man
Universal Studios crafted the most iconic cinematic creatures we've known, including Dracula, Frankenstein, and of course the Wolf Man. While they all existed in different mediums before, Universal turned them into Hollywood stars and made them household names, and "The Wolf Man" is one of their crowning achievements, especially since it debuted back in 1941 and still holds relatively well today. Horror icons Bela Lugosi, Claude Raines and Lon Chaney star in the film as a man who returns home to find his missing brother, only to get attacked by a werewolf and turning into one himself. Chaney plays the Wolf Man with an innocent pathos, making him more a tragic character than a soulless killing machine, and the movie makes the most of its settings, focusing on cemeteries, foggy woods, and gothic homes to fully encapsulate the mood in its short 70-minute runtime. #1
An American Werewolf in London
John Landis was an iconic director, bringing to life classic 70s and 80s films like "Animal House," "The Blues Brothers," and "Coming to America" - but he's also known in horror circles for directing and writing the best werewolf movie in existence: "An American Werewolf in London." Jack and David are two Americans who go backpacking through Europe when they're attacked by a werewolf, and David turns into one. What makes this film different than the others is that all the victims of a werewolf still exist in reanimation until their bloodline ends, which adds a deeper sense of drama and even humor for David and Jack. The movie is well known for its revolutionary effects, which earned Rick Baker an Oscar for his efforts (he would go on to earn another Oscar for his work in "The Wolfman"), and still holds as one of the most unnerving scenes in all horror cinema, along with Landis's sharply written script and excellent blend of humor and horror in equal measure. 
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