Horror films featuring werewolves are a horror genre mainstay. Nothing is more terrifying to many viewers than a huge, hairy creature that is out for blood. Others see nothing more ridiculous than a campy cryptid prowling the woods in a furry costume—probably simply an actor. No matter how you feel about werewolf movies, they have had a significant impact on the horror genre and have made several appearances in well-liked movies.
It was best stated in an article from CNET: “Some of the most striking supernatural beings in the canon are werewolves.
You already have the ingredients for a fantastic story: curses, magic, monsters, and strange creatures. Why not adore it?”
Updated April 10, 2023: This article has been updated to include new details and entries in order to keep it current.
While a few werewolf-themed movies, such as Ginger Snaps, have become cult classics, many more are the unsung heroes of the genre. Underrated films can be loved by all types of viewers and exposed to various audiences by being brought into the open. Whether you enjoy creature features in general or not, werewolf movies always manage to surprise you in a variety of ways. Here is a list of the most underappreciated werewolf films.
Bad Moon (1996)
Bad Moon accurately conveys the cyclical desperation associated with being a werewolf. On a distant photojournalism assignment, Ted (Michael Paré) and his girlfriend Marjorie are cornered by a huge animal that resembles a wolf. Marjorie passes away, but Ted escapes unharmed and moves in with family as he recovers. Together, they finally come to the realisation that Ted was indeed bitten by a werewolf. As he starts to change and turn against them, his loved ones watch in terror as he brings up the repercussions of his past.
Dog Soldiers (2002)
A group of British soldiers who are being attacked by a pack of werewolves in the Scottish Highlands take refuge in an ancient house in the action-packed horror film Pathé Dog Soldiers. It has good acting, a nice plot, and outstanding images for 2002. In particular, the werewolf design is a highly precise interpretation of the werewolf’s half-wolf, half-man appearance. The wolves in Dog Soldiers are tall and feel more like wolf-like aliens than real wolves you’d see in the woods because of their humanoid bodies.
Neil Marshall’s directing career was began by the critically acclaimed film Dog Soldiers. There were even a couple sequels planned at one point, but regrettably they never materialised. That simply means you’ll have to watch Dog Soldiers as a stand-alone film, which, if you haven’t already, is strongly advised.
Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943)
The Wolf Man, one of the original Universal Monsters, appeared alongside other iconic monsters in a number of other films outside his own, 1943’s Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man being one of them. In the film, Larry Talbot (also known as The Wolf Man) is revived and is looking for a method to pass away forever so that he can finally be freed from his werewolf curse. He is told to go to Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory where he will collaborate with another researcher and a descendent of the creator to transfer his life to Bela Lugosi’s Frankenstein’s Monster.
There is a confrontation between Frankenstein and the Wolf Man as a result (Lon Chaney Jr.). Think of the Freddy v. Jason films for an example of how watching two recognisable horror icons from different universes square off can be entertaining. It could be difficult to enjoy Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man today because it’s so old and movies have undoubtedly improved since then. But, it’s a classic, and a list of werewolf films would be incomplete without mentioning The Wolf Man.
Howl (2015)
Howl from Starchild Pictures & Pathé is one of the more recent werewolf movies. This 2015 picture, which was released, instills a sense of horror in a small space. After striking a deer, an overnight train departing London abruptly comes to a stop, giving our favourite fang-toothed beast plenty of opportunity to strike.
The wolf kills the driver, leaving the other passengers vulnerable to a hairy danger. According to a review on Bloody Disgusting, “The film’s overall aesthetic does not exclusively feature the animals. The cramped, dark, and frequently dirty interiors of the train are ideal for creating suspense and frights.”
Late Phases (2014)
When a new film starring a furry man-beast debuts, the formula for werewolf movies is generally repeated, but Late Phases is unquestionably one of the most original entries in the category. It was published in 2014 and is about Ambrose, a blind war veteran who settles with his seeing dog in a retirement community on the outskirts of a forest. Once he moves in and gets to know his neighbours, a full moon appears, revealing that a large werewolf is terrorising the neighbourhood. Ambrose embarks on a search for the werewolf, encountering a number of potential suspects in the neighbourhood before cracking the case.
If you don’t normally enjoy seeing werewolf movies, Late Phases is a decent choice. Although the main antagonists and main emphasis of this story are werewolves, there is also a considerable amount of intrigue and a “whodunit” element. Also, it contains well-rounded characters, particularly Ambrose, who you find yourself really warming up to as the film progresses.
Project Metalbeast (1995)
The werewolf subgenre is extrememly interpreted in Project Metalbeast. An angry military man quickly transforms into a monster after injecting himself with werewolf blood acquired during a mission. After a violent rampage, he is cryogenically frozen for 20 years and then brought back to life to participate in government tests.
The project is a horrible nightmare that revives the werewolf by fusing existing skin with metal in the name of scientific advancement. This film serves as a superb illustration of why some ambitious scientific studies ought to be abandoned before they even get started.
The Beast Must Die (1974)
Not to mention, The Beast Must Die is a lesser-known example of the werewolf film genre. A group of guests are invited to the expansive estate of wealthy and well-known hunter Tom Newcliffe (Calvin Lockhart) with the promise of a relaxing weekend. But their vacation time is cut short when he announces his plan to uncover the werewolf he believes to be among them.
Tom describes a wide range of trials to find the beast, including the use of wolfsbane, silver things, and of course the full moon’s strength. This film adds a whodunit, murder-mystery feel to a classic creature premise, which results in a story that is sorely underappreciated.
The Company of Wolves (1984)
This historical work places werewolves in the pages of a well-known storybook, giving them a fresh perspective. The famous Little Red Riding Hood narrative and the brilliant short story by Angela Carter are both reimagined in the gothic and artistically gorgeous The Company of Wolves.
When Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson), in one of her nightmares, encounters a mystery hunter who turns out to be a werewolf, she disregards her grandmother’s (Angela Lansbury) advice. Rosaleen finally starts to change as a result of her curiosity, creating a beautifully dark thriller that gives a familiar premise a scary twist.
The Werewolf of Washington (1973)
There’s a rather bizarre movie called The Werewolf of Washington, and chances are you’ve never heard of it. It’s a silly horror/comedy about a White House press secretary who gets bitten by a werewolf while on duty in Hungary. When he returns to Washington, D.C., there is a commotion because he starts to feel strange every time there is a full moon.
It’s a pretty bizarre, excessively ridiculous movie from the 1970s, but if you like B-movies, you’ll love this one. The Werewolf of Washington is a delightful film even if you just spend the entire 90 minutes giggling at the screen because there aren’t many — or really any — movies that centre on a werewolf wrecking havoc on the White House and presidential staff.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
The Wolf of Snow Hollow, which was published in 2020, is the most current entry on this list. A small Utah town is the subject of a comedy/horror movie about a run of gruesome killings that appear to have been committed by a werewolf or his paws. The Wolf of Snow Hollow possesses a mixture of all things. Thanks to writer, director, and star Jim Cummings, there is a hint of dread, a mystery to unravel, and tastefully placed offbeat humour.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow is a fantastic recommendation for anyone who doesn’t generally lean towards werewolf movies, much like Late Phases was. It’s distinctive and captivating enough to keep your interest throughout. Who doesn’t enjoy a good twist ending? It also has one.
Werewolf of London (1935)
Universal Pictures’ Werewolf of London introduced moviegoers to what lurks in the shadows before An American Werewolf in London shook the horror genre to its core. Even before the 1941 release of the more well-known The Wolf Man, this 1935 classic is regarded as the first Hollywood werewolf movie to be released in theatres.
Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull), a botanist working on a peculiar plant in Werewolf of London, gets bitten by a dangerous animal while conducting research. When he learns that the flower can treat lycanthropy, everything seems to come together as his body starts to alter as the moon gets full.
When Animals Dream (2014)
When Animals Dream from 2014 is a chilling tale about a 16-year-old girl who experiences frightening physical changes in her little fishing town and learns her family has concealed many dark secrets from her. The story follows the teenager’s terrifying transformation into a werewolf. The slow-burning horror drama portrays the young girl’s spiritual and sexual awakening via the terrifying process, adding a thought-provoking, sad spin to the werewolf story.
Danish director Jonas Alexander Arnby’s feature film debut, When Animals Dream, made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and received accolades for its eerie cinematography and novel approach to a well-liked horror subgenre. “This refined Danish thriller about a sensitive female werewolf is full of restrained horror and elegantly Nordic devastation,” The Hollywood Reporter noted in their review.
Wolf (1994)
Legendary actor Jack Nicholson is outstanding in every role, and his work in the romantic horror film Wolf from 1994 is no exception. With Michelle Pfeiffer, the movie legend played Will Randall, an elderly publishing company executive whose life is dramatically upended after being bitten by a wolf in the wilderness of Vermont. After the attack, Will notices a renewed sense of youth and vitality, but he also starts to act more animalistic and violently, which eventually drives him over the line.
Nicholson’s riveting and authoritative performance as the tormented Will Randall makes Wolf stand out as a more mature, classic take on the werewolf concept. Although the movie received a mixed bag of reviews from critics, it was acclaimed as a darker, moodier rendition of Beauty and the Beast and received six Saturn Award nominations.
WolfCop (2014)
Leo Fafard plays a hard-drinking small-town cop who starts to notice he’s turning into a werewolf after being cursed by a group of murderous occultists in the fabulously hilarious and hugely enjoyable comedy horror WolfCop. The sarcastic, outrageous movie centres on Sergeant Lou Garou as he continues to serve and defend his neighbourhood in all of his werewolf glory, never hesitating to indulge in his impolite inclinations while still making an effort to be a better police officer and man.
WolfCop is a fun blend of horror and humour because it never takes itself too seriously and fully embraces its own craziness and colourful anarchy. Because to the movie’s popularity, another highly anticipated sequel, Another WolfCop, was announced for 2017.
