Cinema is packed with horror movies, from ax wielding nut-jobs to other-worldly beings, we’ve got it all. The best of these is the werewolf movie. Since the early days of silent films, werewolves have been a favorite theme for movie makers and moviegoers alike. There have been countless yards of cellulose devoted to these unnatural beasts, but only a few of them can be called great.
Underworld is without a doubt the best werewolf movie out there. In fact, it has both werewolves and vampires, making it an instant hit with both groups of fans. Released in 2003, this movie follows the war between the “Lycans” and the Vampires that has continued for centuries. This is a big budget feature film with some internationally known actors and stunning visual effects. For pure adrenaline pumping action and a great plot, you can’t beat Underworld. I would also include Underworld: Evolution in this slot.
The next great werewolf film would have to be An American Werewolf in London. This film hit the theatres in 1981 and quickly drew world acclaim. The script involves two Americans backpacking across England. They find themselves attacked by something in the wilderness with only one of them surviving. Very graphic effects show him transforming into the beast with stunning detail before he goes out to hunt. As an added bonus, his victims come back to haunt him throughout the movie. This film is both haunting and humorous while still drawing viewers in. In 1998, its sequel, An American Werewolf in Paris came out. While not nearly as well-crafted as its precursor, it still deserves some mention.
Released in 2001, Brotherhood of the Wolf takes the number three spot. A French film originally entitled “Le Pacte de loups”; this was shot in French with English subtitles. The plot involves a traveling scientist and his American Indian warrior companion hunting an unknown creature that has been killing off the local population. Combining werewolves and fierce martial arts scenes, this movie provides a lot of entertainment. This film has a few mid-level actors and an average budget yet it still manages to draw you in. This is a great movie and would have rated higher, but reading subtitles and following the movie at the same time can be a little distracting. If you can find an English speaking version, I highly recommend watching it.
Number four on the list is The Howling. This film was released in 1980 and is a nice horror/dark comedy. Between great action scenes are some really good bits of black humor. Set in California, the film follows an investigative reporter as she works to uncover a cult’s dark secrets. Since this movie is about werewolves, you can guess what that secret was.
Wolf, released in 1994 and starring some really big names, takes fifth on my list. Set against the backdrop of literary editing, we find Will Randall, played by Jack Nicholson, an aging editor who’s losing his footing. Dogging his steps is Steward, played by James Spader, waiting for Randall to make his last mistake so he can step in. In the middle of this is the love interest, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Everything looks pretty glum for Randall until he’s bitten by a werewolf. That’s when things turn. Randall now has the aggressiveness to keep his rival away until the final showdown. I won’t spoil the rest of the movie but it’s pretty good. A big budget, better-than-average special effects, and great actors manage to turn a potential disaster into a decent movie.
The last movie on my list is Dog Soldiers. This film was released in 2002 in the U.K. This movie is a little bit on the low budget side and doesn’t have any big name actors. It follows a group of British soldiers who come across the remains of a Special Forces team in the Scottish Highlands. They are immediately attacked by a pack of werewolves and manage to escape to a farmhouse. Here, they must battle the beasts as best they can. This is a good movie that was hampered by a small budget. Although other movies on this list are better, I still recommend seeing this one.
There are some other films that aren’t good enough to make the list but might still give you a kick. They include Silver Bullet, Sleepwalkers, Ginger Snaps and The Company of Wolves. I would have included Van Helsing in one of the above lists, but it is more about Van Helsing hunting down a vampire, with a werewolf playing a minor role.
