Horror: Top 10 Werewolf Movies

Werewolves are my favorite horror monsters, so I have seen almost every werewolf movie ever made. I will say that most werewolf movies are awful and don't deserve to be watched but this is a list of my Top 10 favorite werewolf movies, so I will not have to go into details about the bad ones.

The Wolf Man (1941)

This is the original werewolf movie from which most modern werewolf movies and legends have come from. Most fans of modern horror probably overlook this movie because it is old and black and white. To those horror fans, I say you should watch this movie. It doesn't feel old and you will get to see learn where many of the current werewolf traits and rules originated.
Curt Siodmak is the writer of this werewolf movie and many of the ideas, such as silver and wolf bane, are his original concepts. We see many of them in movies today, so, in essence, he has created the modern day werewolf legend.

Lon Chaney Jr. did a great job as the werewolf here. The story was originally supposed to be about a man who goes crazy and only believes he is a werewolf. I am glad that they decided on changing the original story and making it about a real werewolf. The story is simple but powerful.

Who can forget the memorable quote that is repeated throughout the movie, "Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." It's just a classic.

Silver Bullet (1985)

This is another favorite werewolf movie of mine, partly because the main character is in a wheelchair. This movie is based on a Stephen King novella and a pretty good adaptation at that.

The story is not that complicated but it has several moments of intense anticipation of the werewolf attacking at any moment.

Marty is a boy in a wheelchair who likes to take chances and risks. One night while he is out shooting fireworks, he is attacked by a werewolf that has been killing local children. Marty shoots a firecracker right into the werewolf's eye and the next day he sees the town priest wearing an eye patch over one of his eyes. The priest is not evil but his sense of self-preservation tells him to kill Marty and any witnesses.

The build-up of anticipation is great and everyone involved, especially Corey Haim, does a great job to bring Stephen King's words to the screen.

It is a definite must see my horror and werewolf fans.

The Howling (1981)

This is a very good werewolf movie from 1981, directed by Joe Dante, and starring Dee Wallace. It also boasts an All-Star cast, like Patrick Macnee, Kevin McCarthy, John Carradine, Forrest J. Ackerman and Roger Corman.

A female news reporter helps police find and kill a serial killer and she goes on vacation where she soon finds out the serial killer lived in a weird community, which she later finds out is made up of werewolves.

It is a simple story with lots of atmosphere, terror and creepy special effects. The werewolves are shown changing on screen and the resulting monsters are unlike most other werewolves up until that time on film, being two-legged men with wolf-like heads.

Definitely a must see for horror and werewolf fans.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

This is a great werewolf movie written and directed by John Landis. Many fans compared this movie to The Howling because they were both made in 1981 and are the best werewolf movies from that time.

The story is very simple. Two young American men are walking on a moor in England when a werewolf attacks them and kills one and bites the other. The bitten man lives and becomes a werewolf while living in the London city, recuperating from his wounds.

What is great about this werewolf movie is that the change from man to Wolf is seen on camera in real time with real, as opposed to stop motion, special effects and looks very good considering that the budget was not that high.

I prefer it to The Howling but everyone has their preference. It is a must see.

Wolfen (1981)

This is another great werewolf movie from 1981, starring Albert Finney and Gregory Hines.

Two city cops are assigned to solve a series of violent murders where the victims seemed to be killed by wolves. When one cop is killed, the other cop continues his investigation and, along the way, he learns of an Indian legend about wolf spirits.

This movie is different from other werewolf movies because there really are no people turning into wolves. There are real wolves and men who think they are wolves but no typical werewolves like in the usual horror movies. It still is a very good horror movie but with mystery and thriller aspects.

A definite must-see.

Ginger Snaps (2000)

This is a movie that took a while to grow on me but now it is one of my favorites.

What makes it unique is that the werewolf is female and some of the werewolf traits are tied to the girl's menstrual cycle. The werewolf looks like a giant rat but you can't have everything.

The story is very good with great acting by everyone. A must-see by horror fans.

Dog Soldiers (2002)

This movie took me two views to really like it. Now it is one of my top 10. It is a British movie made in 2002 with a low budget.

A team of soldiers on a practice mission in the Highlands of Scotland encounter a group of werewolves and must do battle with them from a cabin in the woods. Suspicion abounds with everyone thinking others are werewolves too.

The plot is simple but the atmosphere is good. It almost feels like the cabin in The Evil Dead.

Ginger Snaps 3 (2004)

I wouldn't normally put a sequel here as one of my favorites but this sequel is so far removed from the original that it feels like an entirely different movie series.

It is set at a secluded fort in 19th-century Canada with gorgeous sets. This time we see a whole group of werewolves attacking the fort, which is an entirely different scenario than the first two movies.

The same two sisters are the main characters but they are supposed to be the descendants of those in the original two movies.

If you liked the first movie, I think you will like this one too.

Werewolf of London (1935)

Who can forget Henry Hull as the Elvis werewolf with the sideburns? This movie came before The Wolf Man, so many of the werewolf traits are different. An animal still bites the man but, this time, there is a cure - a rare Asian flower.

The metamorphosis is cool because it is done while the man is walking.

If you like classic horror, this is a must-see.

Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

I just had to add this spoof because it's cool to see Dracula, The Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's Monster all in one movie. The Invisible Man makes an appearance too.

Abbott & Costello are freight handlers delivering supposed wax figures of Frankenstein's monster and Dracula to a museum. They are real and awaken. Dracula wants to re-energize the monster with a new brain. Larry Talbot (The Wolfman) arrives from London to stop Dracula.

This is the final appearance of Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula and Lon Chaney Jr. as The Wolf Man. Glenn Stranger plays The Frankenstein Monster.

This is a fun, light-hearted horror comedy that is a must-see!