A Field Guide to Cinematic Werewolves

There are dozens monster moviesbut only a select few center on the character that popularized the Werewolf as part of the Universal Monsters pantheon. with Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man— Universal Monsters riff on Lawrence “Larry” Talbot’s name change to Blake as part of the rebooted storyline—arriving this week, we’re taking a look at all the notable Wolfmen from the past.

(If you’re more of a vampire fan, io9 also “A Field Guide to Cinematic Draculas” a few years ago to sink their teeth into).

The Werewolf (1941)

He watched as Universal Monsters brought the now-classic Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein and The Invisible Man to theaters, but Lon Cheney’s Larry Talbot Jr. makes an indelible impression as a fish out of water at his father’s home in Wales. even before his fateful encounter with a very special kind of monster.

Here’s some great subtext: Claude Raines, star The Invisible ManBela Lugosi plays Larry’s estranged father and Count Dracula himself, playing the werewolf (also named Bela) who created our Werewolf. Wolf Man of course, it’s now a cultural touchstone for every werewolf movie that followed, from Chaney’s memorable transformation scene to the incorporation of werewolf lore into the script. It includes the poem “wolf tree”, which foregrounds the power of silver and the idea that “even a person with a pure heart can fall victim to a monster’s curse”.

Frankenstein Meets the Werewolf (1943)

Lon Chaney Jr. returns to star and Curt Siodmak once again writes the screenplay. Wolf Man It backfires with Larry Talbot (who repeats his tragic on-screen death at the end of the film, opening with an active revival of the full moon). Chaney’s co-star is once again Bela Lugo, but this time she dons tons of makeup to play Frankenstein’s monster.

Now fully aware of his creature status, Larry not only has to deal with being a werewolf, but also has to deal with the fact that the authorities don’t think that wolves are real – he’s being led by Dr. Anxieties that drive Frankenstein to seek out, or at least strange… Science records to find a cure. Instead, he finds a frozen ice monster that is difficult to deal with after being brought back to immortal life. Universal’s first attempt at monster crossovers was not well received by critics at the time, but it has since become a fan favorite, not least for its boozy, toe-tapping musical number when the characters agree to attend a nearby “Festival Festival.” New wine.” At the end of the third act, both monsters perish… or do they?

House of Frankenstein (1944)

Kurt Siodmak’s story about the mad scientist (played by Boris Karloff), Dr. With its Frankenstein-like layout, it’s the basis for making a new body for his hunchback sidekick. Count Dracula and Glenn Strange as Frankenstein’s monster. Events are set in motion in an incredible sequence (an earthquake-assisted prison escape; a vampire’s revival after exhuming his body from a traveling show… and then a rather quick death again in the sunlight) and Wolf Man and the Beast enter the story as they rise from their frozen graves.

Despite his condition, Larry retains enough of his animal magnetism to arouse romantic feelings in a local woman, though Wolfman’s exposure to silver bullets doesn’t end well for either of them. Or he?

House of Dracula (1945)

The gang is all here (Chaney as Werewolf; Carradine as Dracula; Strange as the Beast), though this time around both Werewolf and Dracula descends on the castle lair of an eccentric scientist in hopes of curing his terrible ailments. Frankenstein’s monster apparently perished in the quicksand Frankenstein’s house‘s mad doctor is brought back (again) to bring more chaos to court.

A lot though Dracula’s house revolves around vampires—never trust Dracula, especially when blood transfusions are involved—notably, Larry actually recovers from this state thanks to brain surgery that prevents him from transforming into a werewolf. Dracula dies, the mad scientist dies, the Beast dies… but Larry Talbot lives on heroically!

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Universal has finally figured out what monster movies have been missing all this time: jokes and gags! Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein was such a hit—reviving the waning Universal Monsters genre in the process—that the comedy duo launched a subsequent series of similarly titled films, taking on The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and others. But it’s hard to beat the hijinks here, with Larry Talbot (Chaney, of course) as a central figure on the periphery of a story about Dracula’s (Bela Lugosi) attempts to create a new brain rustler for Frankenstein’s monster (Glenn Strange). Larry (in wolf form) and Count (in bat form) die at the end, but we all know that doesn’t mean anything in the ever-spinning creature-character circle of life.

Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)

Mountain actor Donald Gibb (Revenge of the Nerds) Larry the Wolfman stars in this silly comedy starring Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley Jr. They find the scoop mom’s neighborhood, which of course reveals a werewolf, a vampire, a swamp thing, and a shady doctor who might just have made a monster out of human body parts. Critic Leonard Maltin was famously impatient Transylvania 6-5000 a one-word review (“Sounds off!”), but the cast is ridiculous enough to be at least somewhat interesting; along with the leads, Geena Davis, Carol Kane, Norman Fell, pre-Scandal Jeffrey Jones andSeinfeld (and before his own scandal) Michael Richards.

Monster Squad (1987)

While not a canon entry in the Universal Monsters pantheon—for one thing, Universal didn’t make Fred Dekker’s horror comedy—this cult favorite features a group of monster-obsessed kids who rethink their idolatry when Universal Monsters comes to life. causing near-apocalyptic problems in their neighborhood. Frankenstein’s monster is the only cool guy in the bunch, but the fluffiest menace of them all. Monster Squad‘s most quoted line: “Wolfman’s got nards!”

Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000)

After introducing Frankenstein (and his monster) in 1999, the animated creatures returned in 2000 with veteran voice actor Maurice LaMarche for more Universal Monster mash-up. (Futurama, Pinky and the Brain, The Real Ghostbusters) Alvin plays Lawrence Talbot, a new neighbor to Simon, Theodore and Dave. It turns out that Mr. Talbot has a secret (can you guess what it is?), but in mild horror Alvin and the Chipmunks meet Wolfman introduces a new cure for werewolfism: if a werewolf bites another werewolf, the effect reverses the curse on both victims.

Van Helsing (2004)

Director Stephen Sommers created a cinematic delight with Brendan Fraser mother Unfortunately, I couldn’t conjure up the same sentiment in this equally big-budget, effects-laden adventure starring Hugh Jackman as the legendary vampire hunter. There really isn’t a “Wolf Man” character – much of the drama revolves around Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh), his despicable brides and the even more despicable Frankenstein’s scheme to dominate the werewolf-adjacent world.

But Van Helsing Universal Monsters is cut from a lot of cloth. He is Dr. It spins on Jekyll and Mister Hyde and weaves in a monster plot involving Kate Beckinsale’s character’s suffering brother, who briefly passes the curse on to Van Helsing… which is what it takes to defeat Dracula, so everybody’s a winner?

House of the Werewolf (2009)

I hadn’t actually heard of it Home of the Werewolf Before I start compiling this Wolf Man list, however, this indie film stars Ron Chaney in black-and-white—grandson of Lon Chaney Jr.—which makes it interesting. He’s not playing the Werewolf; he plays a mad scientist who turns various familiar monsters (yes, including werewolves) into greedy heirs to his fortune.

The Wolfman (2010)

Joe Johnston (Captain America: The First Avenger, The Rocketeer, Jurassic Park III) It was directed by this oft-forgotten Universal release, which still managed to win the best makeup Oscar for Rick Baker, who won the first award in the category in 1981. An American Werewolf in London) and collaborator Dave Elsey.

So the makeup is great! Unfortunately for the rest of the cast, which includes Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving, it’s not, even though it’s more or less a remake of the 1941 original.

Werewolf (2025)

Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man (2020) gave new hope to Universal’s dreams of reclaiming the monster-movie mantle, updating the original film’s story with genuine scares and timely themes. It will be his Wolf ManDoes Julia Garner, with a non-Larry Talbot Christopher Abbott playing the titular character and the man-wolf’s understandably exasperated wife, achieve similar success? He’s coming this Friday, January 17th to make audiences scream…hopefully happy.

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