Presented by Steven C. Miller’s Werewolves, Bloody Disgusting is looking to the stars and howling at the moon with WEREWOLVES WEEK. Today, Rachel Reeves takes a bite out of seven under-seen werewolf movies you don’t want to miss. Werewolves have long prowled the shadows of horror cinema, their natural knack for a meaty metaphor and fur-clad […]
Presented by Steven C. Miller’s Werewolves, Bloody Disgusting is looking to the stars and howling at the moon with WEREWOLVES WEEK. Today, Rachel Reeves takes a bite out of seven under-seen werewolf movies you don’t want to miss.
Werewolves have long prowled the shadows of horror cinema, their natural knack for a meaty metaphor and fur-clad ferocity captivating audiences for generations. While classics like An American Werewolf in London, The Howling,and The Wolf Man often lead the crowded werewolf genre pack, it also teems with lesser-known gems waiting to sink their teeth into new fans.
From campy cult favorites to atmospheric thrillers brimming with eerie allure, the enduring appeal of the werewolf metaphor lies in its raw exploration of duality—the primal versus the civilized, man versus the beast. It’s a vessel for themes of transformation, rage, addiction and identity, resonating with anyone who has wrestled with their inner demons. And it is this that allows the werewolf genre to evolve and retain relevancy time and time again.
In anticipation of the new movie Werewolves, starring Frank Grillo and now playing in theaters everywhere, here are a few underseen werewolf movies worth biting into. So grab a silver bullet and a bowl of popcorn because these furry flicks are clawing for your attention.
Early into the 1970s, Amicus Productions was at a crossroads. Faced with decreasing market demand for their more traditional horror fare, the iconic British production company had to get creative if they wanted to keep the lights on. While that would soon lead to the company making more of a pivot into science-fiction films, Amicus took one last chance on horror with its genre-blurring murder mystery werewolf film: The Beast Must Die.
Based on a short story by author James Blish called “There Shall Be No Darkness,” The Beast Must Die centers around a rich hunter named Tom Newcliffe (Calvin Lockhart) who has become bored of hunting traditional game. Naturally, this soon leads to Newcliffe pursuing the ultimate predator — a werewolf. To do so, Newcliffe invites six guests he suspects have lycanthropic tendencies to his massive country estate, which he has outfitted with a state-of-the-art security system, hoping to root out the beast within.
What follows is a beautifully British-style murder mystery that captures the spirit of Agatha Christie with all the trappings of a ’70s exploitation film. Along with a cast that includes Peter Cushing, Michael Gambon, Marlene Clark, Charles Gray and Anton Diffring, The Beast Must Die also boasts an incredibly groovy score by Douglas Gamley and a William Castle-worthy “Werewolf Break” gimmick that more than makes up for the film’s less-than-impressive werewolf effects.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
Perhaps due to a global pandemic aligning with the film’s initial release, but Jim Cummings’ darkly comedic The Wolf of Snow Hollow has yet to receive the respect it deserves as a modern werewolf classic. For one, there’s something so wonderfully cozy about a werewolf movie set in a small town during the snowy winter months. The contrast of dark red blood pooling in white snow provides a striking visual, of course, but more than that, there is something deeply satisfying about its mix of textures and atmosphere that consistently engages all the senses.
Deeply dark, humorous and smart, The Wolf of Snow Hollow features Cummings as small-town cop John Marshall struggling to cope with an ailing father (perfectly portrayed by the late Robert Forster), a teenage daughter, his addiction issues and a rash of brutal murders that everyone keeps wanting to attribute to a werewolf. To counter his trademark dry cynicism and inevitable on-screen meltdown, Cummings surrounds himself with an endearing cast of capable characters that aren’t afraid to call Marshall on his bullshit. Thematically rich, self-aware, and very funny, Snow Hollow is a charming world that is absolutely worth visiting. Just, you know, look out for werewolves.
The Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman (1971)
León Klimovsky’s The Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman truly has it all — witches, werewolves, vampires, Satan, sacrifices, the French countryside and damsels in distress. On top of that, it also stars Spanish horror icon Paul Naschy. In the film, Naschy stars as Waldemar Daninsky, a werewolf unintentionally brought back from the dead. While searching for the one thing that can help him kick the werewolf habit for good, Daninsky meets two young women searching for the tomb of a vampire named Countess Wandesa. Naturally, Daninsky offers his assistance and finds himself in quite the pickle when the trio accidentally revives the bloodthirsty Countess.
Featuring a stunning supporting cast that includes Gaby Fuchs (Mark of the Devil), Patty Shepard (Slugs), Andrés Resino, and Barbara Capell, The Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman oozes atmosphere and simmering eroticism. With three different cuts in existence that each feature varying amounts of nudity, there is undoubtedly a cut for everyone. And lest one worry, the film also features some incredibly charming classic horror effects that put its cocktail of creatures to bloody good use.
The Company of Wolves (1984)
While consistently gaining in popularity and praise as time marches on, Neil Jordan’sThe Company of Wolves still remains a bit of a hidden horror gem. An anthology film adapting the werewolf-centric short stories by Angela Carter, the overall vibe blends dreamy fairy-tale aesthetics with hefty commentary and heavy practical effects. With the wraparound tale centering on a teenager named Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson), each segment explores the predatory social environment many young women experience and the complex anxieties and feelings that so often accompany the journey through puberty. Despite the film’s effects having aged to various degrees, a strong visual look and supporting cast (including Angela Lansbury and David Warner) beautifully support the still potent conversation simmering beneath the surface.
WolfCop (2014)
In the beloved and time-honored tradition of intentional schlock filmmaking, WolfCop is exactly what you think it is. Better yet, it’s a film that knows exactly what it is. Directed and written by Lowell Dean (Dark Match), WolfCop is a Canadian horror-comedy that is campy, satirical, grotesque, ridiculous, and wonderfully self-aware. In it, Leo Fafard stars as an alcoholic cop named Lou Garou. After responding to a call that involves some occult activity, Lou blacks out and wakes up the next day to find that the pentagram carved into his stomach isn’t the only parting gift the mysterious cult bestowed upon him. Before long, Garou finds himself in several hairy situations that must be seen to be believed.
Werewolves on Wheels (1971)
If you ever wished there were more motorcycles in your current werewolf watch, well, then this is the movie for you. A wonderfully odd relic, Michel Levesque’s Werewolves on Wheels follows the misadventures of a biker gang called The Devil’s Advocates. After pulling a particularly ominous tarot card, the gang decides to visit a monastery that houses a group of Satan-worshipping monks. When the evil monks try to sacrifice Helen (Donna Anderson), one of the bikers, to Satan, the rest of her biker brethren step in and smash things up accordingly. However, little do they know that part of the sacrificial ritual has taken hold of Helen, turning her into a werewolf at night. Naturally, this does not bode well for the bikers. Part Easy Rider, part TheDevil’s Rain, part I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle, Werewolves on Wheels is a sleazy good ride with a killer soundtrack to boot.
Full Moon High (1981)
From the glorious mind of Larry Cohen, who brought us such masterpieces as The Stuff, Q: The Winged Serpent, and It’s Alive, comes a classic ’80s reimagining of the teen werewolf movie. No, not that classic 80s reimagining of the teen werewolf movie. Full Moon High is a classic ’80s teen werewolf movie that tells the tale of Tony (Adam Arkin), a high school football star bitten by a werewolf while visiting Transylvania with his dad. Now ageless thanks to his new affliction, Tony takes a few decades to find himself before returning home to roam the halls of his high school, juggle multiple young women, hit up the big game and keep the police at bay. Deeply satirical and funny, Full Moon High does indeed have more than a few now-inappropriate jokes, but it also boasts Cohen’s biting sense of humor and a strong cast of Cohen regulars that makes this the other 80s teen werewolf movie worth checking out.
