1941
Directed by George Waggner
Ah, nothing like early Universal horror films. This time we are dealing with a werewolf, not a vampire or monster (though if you want, I am pretty sure they made films of battle between the three of them). This one, I have to confess, creeped me out a little bit (just the early woods scene). I have never been a real werewolf movie person, but I was really into this.
This film is about a perfectly respectable man who is also A WEREWOLF??!??!?! You know what they say, "even a man that is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." Who says this, you ask? Watch the movie!
Disclaimer: this movie is better than the campy Universal movies before it, which surprisingly enough, might turn some people off, who are looking forward to the cheese. I apologize.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
This is a metaphor for when the Nazis took over Germany.
The bear that was supposed to battle Wolf Man broke out and chased Evelyn Ankers up into the rafters.
Myths about werewolves emerged from this film like the silver bullet, changing into a werewolf during the full moon, and becoming a werewolf through the bite. I would feel very powerful if I was the writer.
GO WOLFMAN!
That's crazy that myths were from this movie! I never knew that! I enjoyed this movie, and I was scared it was going to be campy. Then I saw that it was Lon Chaney and I felt better, because he can be really creepy.
ReplyDeleteI did think it was strange that everyone spent the first half of the movie telling Lou about werewolves, and then no one believed him in the second half! But whatever. The short length was also a strength I think!
Haha that's a great point; I hadn't thought about that. Yes, it definitely felt like the right amount of time.
DeleteI actually preferred the earlier horror movies to this one. The gypsies are good though.
ReplyDeleteI think I liked this one since the other monster movies are so cliche and predictable.
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