We are halfway through our #31DaysOfHalloween and we are bringing you Werewolf Week! There is a depressing dearth of filmography about the children of the moon, despite the fact that they are one of the most popular mythical creatures in the world. This week’s movie recs are bolstered by some TV show extras because sometimes you need more than two hours-worth to properly delve into the beast within.
Teen Wolf (1985)
Synopsis: An ordinary high school student discovers that his family has an unusual pedigree when he finds himself turning into a werewolf.
Why it’s good: Ah, the days when Stiles Stilinski was a simple sidekick with a consistent uniform of sometimes-funny graphic tees. Although our generation may associate Teen Wolf with more supernatural drama than coming-of-age comedy, this 80s classic was a whole bunch of adolescent fun complete with mid-basketball-court transformation and everyone being totally cool with a fully-transformed werewolf regularly attending the local high school.
Where to watch it: Vudu, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes, Hulu
Ginger Snaps (2000)
Synopsis: Two death-obsessed sisters, outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, must deal with tragic consequences when one of them is bitten by a deadly werewolf.
Why it’s good: Ginger Snaps also uses the curse of the werewolf as a metaphor for coming-of-age, though – undoubtedly because it is a dated movie with female protagonists – growing up is a lot scarier here. The transformation into the clawed beast is paralleled with a cliched makeover from grunge goth to sexy goth, but it’s worth it just to see some un-gentlemanlike boys get eaten.
Where to watch it: YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Synopsis: Two American college students on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.
Why it’s good: Not only is this movie much more intense than its what-it-says-on-the-tin title might suggest, it also has an amazing musical legacy. Not only does the music in the movie not once match the mood (for example a soft jazzy version of “Blue Moon” playing over a horrific transformation) we also have this movie to thank for Michael Jackson’s musical epic Thriller.
Where to watch it: YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes
MTV’s Teen Wolf (2011)
Synopsis: An average high school student and his best friend get caught up in some trouble, causing him to receive a werewolf bite. As a result, they find themselves in the middle of all sorts of drama in Beacon Hills.
Why it’s good: Take the names of two characters from a beloved 80s comedy and make something angsty, dark, and sexy. That’s MTV’s Teen Wolf. With absolutely no other relation to the original film than a title and two character names, the show went far and wide while playing fast and loose with several mythologies during its six-season run while keeping werewolves (and high school lacrosse) at the center of the story.
Where to watch it: MTV.com, Netflix
Hemlock Grove (2013)
Synopsis: Secrets are just part of daily life in the small Pennsylvania town of Hemlock Grove, where the darkest evils hide in plain sight.
Why it’s good: It’s difficult to separate werewolves from their sworn enemies, the vampires. It’s even harder to separate them when a young werewolf and a young vampire decide that they are very intense frenemies. With several twists on both mythologies, while still holding true to the heart of these dark creatures, Hemlock Grove is a gory and glorious take on the werewolf genre.
Where to watch it: Netflix, Amazon Prime
What did you think of our recommendations this week? Do any other werewolf-centered films spring to mind? Hit us up on Twitter and keep an eye out for the rest of our #31DaysOfHalloween!
