THE WEREWOLF (1956)

THE WEREWOLF (1956)

Tagline: The horror of all mankind terrifies the screen!

(Horror, Sci-Fi, Bear Traps Are Annoying) [PG]

Note: This movie was not given a rating by the MPAA. If it came out today, it would likely land a [PG] rating. Theatrically this movie was released as part of a double feature with EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS. 

Pity people can’t get themselves killed and chewed up during the daytime, a man of my age needs his sleep. 

In this one, a stranger shows up in Mountaincrest and has no idea who he is (we later find out his name is Duncan Marsh). He recalls that he was treated by two doctors after a car accident and believes he’s killed a man that tried to rob him. He’s also unfortunately injured a deputy and the cops are after what they believe is a werewolf. Dr. Jonas Gilcrist and his daughter Amy want to try and save the man so they can help him, but the doctors that turned him into a killing machine have other plans.  

One cool thing about this movie is that it only takes them about 15 minutes to realize they are dealing with a werewolf. There isn’t a ton of exposition done speculating, this thing just gets right to the point. I also liked that we are shown that Duncan (the werewolf) has both a wife and daughter that are looking for him. He isn’t just a random stranger we really aren’t given a reason to care about due to lack of a backstory. The transformation from man to werewolf is pretty dated, but the final look of the werewolf is on par for the era. One thing that also stands out about this movie is that it is set in Canada. For the 1950s this was pretty rare, FIEND WITHOUT A FACE and THE FLY might be the only ones I can think of. 

Acting wise you can probably tell from my review of TERROR FROM THE YEAR 5000, that I am a huge Joyce Holden who passed away just this year (2022) at the age of 91. Whenever she is on the screen she freakin owns it. She also got to play another really smart character in this, Amy Standish. Ken Christy is solid in this as Dr. Jonas Gilcrist. I love the fact that he is slightly cranky and straight to the point, but kind as well. George Lynn is also very good as Dr. Mogan Chambers. He’s kind of got this mad scientist approach to things and is capable of murder, all in the name of saving mankind from itself of course. 

Technically this movie falls under the category of both horror and sci-fi. The werewolf in this is a scientific creation so it didn’t require a silver bullet to kill. This falls in line with the approach that AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON took, the difference is, in that movie the werewolf was supernatural. 

If I have any complaints it’s that some of the “spook” is taken out of this movie due to the fact that most of it happens during the daytime, but it’s still a very effective and well-shot flick overall. The copy I watched on a streaming service was in superb condition and in widescreen, so that always helps. I also wasn’t crazy about the line where one of Sheriff Haines's deputies tells him that when this is all over he is going to get drunk and stay that way for a week? How the cow is that going to help anything? To make matters worse, the Sheriff says he will join him? This is a wonky what the “crap” moment in an otherwise well-written script. 

Overall I have to give this one a 4 out of 7. There are some lulls, but it’s a pretty interesting take on the werewolf genre.

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF SAM KATZMAN PRODUCTIONS AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY. 

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