The Werewolf (1956)

The Werewolf is a movie principally geared for baby boomers who like the old time horror movies. It will also provide good entertainment for teenage parties. Although The Werewolf is a horror movie, it is almost laughable. The movie was probably scary in the 1950 when it was made, but today's horror buffs won't find it very frightening. It is the typical cheesy horror movie for the 50s. Even the monster isn't that scary for today's standards. Good horror movies will stand the test of time like the House on Haunted Hill with Vincent Price or the 1968 Night of The Living Dead. This movie is best viewed late at night or in the middle of the afternoon, preferably a rainy one. Grab your popcorn and soda and pretend to be scared.

It's a pity that actor Steven Ritch disappeared from the scene in 1962 as his very affecting performance as Duncan Marsh, the accident victim who is victimized in more ways than one indicated a talent that was waiting to be discovered but sadly was not. Eschewing the hokey full moon/silver bullets thing, THE WEREWOLF is a neat combination of sci-fi/horror that is nicely augmented with a few film noirish touches. The story, while a little trite revolves around Marsh, who is rescued from an auto accident only to be subsequently violated by a couple of misguided scientists who shoot an experimental serum into him with the predictable, tragic results. Filmed in glorious black and white at Bear Lake, the difficult terrain and looming mountains in the background not only add visual splendor to the film, they also represent notworthy metaphors for the tough moral and ethical struggles of the local sheriff, doctor, nurse, victim's wife, son and, above all, the victim himself. And given that, THE WEREWOLF might just tear at your heart a little, a not very common reaction to 'B' enterprises such as this.Happily now available in a two DVD/four title set, THE WEREWOLF was originally released as the lower-half to the talky yawner EARTH VS FLYING SAUCERS. However, I have just finished watching it as the top half of a double bill that concluded with THE CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN, an admittedly more routine, far less moving chiller that does nevertheless make for an excellent duo and is also included in the two DVD package. (The other titles are the ridiculous THE GIANT CLAW and the surprisingly effective ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU.) Bottom line? WEREWOLF is definitely VERY highly recommended as is seeing it in tandem with ATOM BRAIN.

In the 1950's, our fear of the atomic age meant that we rewrote everything in a way to reflect that. So it was with "The Werewolf", where a couple of mad atomic scientists inject a man with serum so they can avoid mutating in the upcoming nuclear war. He develops amnesia, and then gets about terrorizing a small town.The thing is, I'm not sure if the movie wants us to feel sorry for the guy or not. He eventually kills three people, one a thug trying to rob him and the other the two wacky scientists who made him this way and were trying to finish him off. So it's not his fault.But the angry town of rednecks after hounding him and setting out bear traps for him, kill him in a fusillade of bullets at the end, with the white male lead feeling pretty good about himself.If they made it today, it'd be genetic engineering, lots of CGI and gore, and less character development, so enjoy this gem from the past.

I can remember seeing this on a double bill with Earth vs the Fling Saucers at a matinée back in the mid fifties, both creeped me out (for different reasons)and it wasn't until; years later that I realized the same man, Fred F. Sears, had directed both. What a wonderful eye he had for action, awe, horror and pathos as all of these were in display on the double bill. "Flying Saucers" had been covered a zillion times but The Werewolf is a true gem with solid acting, a fairly believable script and some decent chills. It also serves as an analogy for the modern man being caught up in circumstances he can neither escape nor fully comprehend. The scenes in the mine shaft and jail cell alone are worth the price of admission. I disagree vehemently, however, with those writers who state that there's a gay subtext running throughout the film. Sorry all, the greatest fear of the fifties was of an unknown future created by the power of the atom, not supposed homosexual scientists destroying the American family.