‘Full Moon’: A Guide to the Top Werewolf Transformations
If you know me then you probably know that I am a huge Lycanthropy fan. In folklore, Lycanthropy is the magical ability to assume the form and characteristics of a wolf. Pretty badass, right?
Truth be told, I am not a huge fan of gore and, typically, where there is a Werewolf, there’s bound to be limbs flying and blood gushing. Nevertheless, I am always impressed with the creative ways filmmakers bring their vision of werewolves to life.
Below is a list of my top 10 films with werewolves and werewolf transformations, in no particular order. Now, I have by no means seen every Werewolf film known to man, so this list is noncomprehensive. However, I am open to viewing suggestions for ones that I missed like the 2013 horror film Wer!
American Werewolf in London
I find this film quite scary because the attention to detail in every aspect of the transformation is pure genius.
Romasanta: The Werewolf Hunt
There is just something about watching the bones, blood, and flesh of a person reshape in the rain, in what looks like an amniotic sac, that leaves you with goosebumps.
The Howling
An exceptionally freaky transformation that reveals a nightmarish creature. This film was also released only a few months before An American Werewolf in London.
The Wolfman (2010)
This remake of the 1941 film achieves a well-balanced transformation through CGI and above-par acting from Benicio Del Toro. A reboot of the 1941 film is slated for January 2025 by Saw and Insidious franchise director Leigh Whannell. I’m curious to see how it will turn out!
Van Helsing (2004)
Firstly, how is this film 20 years old?! The pain that must come from this film’s transformation depiction of ripping your flesh off to reveal the essence of a werewolf lurking underneath is almost unimaginable.
Dog Soldiers
Honorable mention goes to Dog Soldiers because while it doesn’t show the full transformations, the werewolves’ mammoth size and intelligence make them that much more frightening.
Wolf (1994)
Starring Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer, Wolf captures the beautiful evolution of two different types of men into a wolf, complete with heightened senses, elongating features, and a growing lust for the hunt…or kill.
Twilight: New Moon
‘Team Jacob’ girlie here! The Quileute wolves practically explode into their massive form. As Bella noted, “They’re wolves! I mean like they’re huge wolves!” The wolves shift based on the proximity of their foes, the vampires, no moon needed.
Underworld
The Underworld franchise depicts a transformation where the human body is merely a vessel that can barely contain the force of the werewolf. Their massive size lends them to being formidable enemies to the vampires.
Werewolf By Night
Originally released in black and white and set in the Marvel universe, Werewolf by Night has the classic monster movie / fright night vibe. It also shows another depiction of a “wolfman” and the lingering pull of humanity in one’s wolf form.
Have you seen the films on this list? What films would you add?