The Werewolf (1956)

hyped garbage

Excellent but underrated film

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Seen this at the movies in 1956! I've listed this as my favorite werewolf movie of all times (I've seen a lot them) Takes place in the Big Bear Mountain area in Calif. Filmed in the winter time with snow still on the ground. Steven Ritch gives a good performance as the poor guy who gets treated by the wrong doctors after having a car accident. This can't really be considered a horror movie since it involves radiation etc. The special affects are fine and the werewolf makeup looks good (Looks like same makeup used in "The Return of the Vampire". A couple of great scary moments - The cave scene - The scene in the police station cell - My favorite is the scene at the beginning of the movie when the werewolf comes out of the alley and confronts a little old lady (The werewolf has his back to you but scares the heck out of the lady who is facing him)! No guts or gore in this movie. Harry Lauter, always liked him, plays the main deputy. I went up to the location where the movie's finale was shot (On the bridge)! I was 9 years old when I seen this movie at our local movie house and I have the movie at home now and try to watch it a couple of times a year! Watch it if you get the chance, you just might like it!! David N.

The Werewolf was released as the bottom half a sci-fi/horror double feature along with Earth Vs the Flying Saucers both helmed by Fred Sears. Sears had acted, directed, and written screen plays in Hollywood for twenty years at an almost assembly line pace. He did them all Western, Mysteries, Comedies, you name it as an actor and director.He specialized in getting the most with the least and brought in his films in on time and under budget The year after this film was released, 1957 to be exact, Sears died of a heart attack at the youthful age of 44. Some say he worked himself to death.The Werewolf was a bare bones, low budget production filmed in the mountainous country of Big Bear California. Nominal lead,6 foot 6 inch Californian Dan Megowan had been considered by Walt Disney for the part of Davy Crockett in the series. As it was he portrayed William Travis in the Alamo portion of series. Megowan would work in westerns and action adventure films and television for the rest of his career. In 1962 he would star in the sci-fi cult classic Creation of the Humanoids which Andy Warhol would describe as his favorite sci-fi film and a big influence on his cinema work. Steven Ritch is the title character in the film. Ritch was a familiar face on television in the 1950's as a guest star, particularly in TV western. In the 1960's he turned to teleplay writing with some success.The Werewolf is a surprising good horror film, although it's as much sci-fi as it is horror. Sears got solid performances from all his cast. Ritch, in particular, gives his character a great deal of pathos. A decent man man caught in a tragic destiny. The make up and F/X is quite effective. An uncredited Clay Campbell did the makeup. Twelve years earlier Campbell had done the makeup for Matt Willis in Return of the Vampire so the werewolf's definitely have a similar look.The Werewolf was a surprise hit. Although it was released in 1956, it was still making the rounds of the summer drive-in circuit as late as 1962. Its been out on DVD for several years and if you, like me, are a fan of 1950's b/w horror films and especial lycanthropy cinema then this is the film for you

It's a pity that actor Steven Ritch disappeared from the scene in 1962 as his very affecting performance as Duncan Marsh, the accident victim who is victimized in more ways than one indicated a talent that was waiting to be discovered but sadly was not. Eschewing the hokey full moon/silver bullets thing, THE WEREWOLF is a neat combination of sci-fi/horror that is nicely augmented with a few film noirish touches. The story, while a little trite revolves around Marsh, who is rescued from an auto accident only to be subsequently violated by a couple of misguided scientists who shoot an experimental serum into him with the predictable, tragic results. Filmed in glorious black and white at Bear Lake, the difficult terrain and looming mountains in the background not only add visual splendor to the film, they also represent notworthy metaphors for the tough moral and ethical struggles of the local sheriff, doctor, nurse, victim's wife, son and, above all, the victim himself. And given that, THE WEREWOLF might just tear at your heart a little, a not very common reaction to 'B' enterprises such as this.Happily now available in a two DVD/four title set, THE WEREWOLF was originally released as the lower-half to the talky yawner EARTH VS FLYING SAUCERS. However, I have just finished watching it as the top half of a double bill that concluded with THE CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN, an admittedly more routine, far less moving chiller that does nevertheless make for an excellent duo and is also included in the two DVD package. (The other titles are the ridiculous THE GIANT CLAW and the surprisingly effective ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU.) Bottom line? WEREWOLF is definitely VERY highly recommended as is seeing it in tandem with ATOM BRAIN.

This genuinely interesting and well made black-and-white horror film was a pleasant surprise, given the director and producer previously gave us "The Giant Claw" (good character scenes, ludicrous monster effects) and "Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers" (good special effects by Harryhausen, wooden, clunky and low energy "live" scenes").The "buzz" on this one is supposed to be that this was the first "scientific" werewolf on film, but I recall George Zuckoff starring in a PRC poverty row production called "Mad Monster" which was very similar in story and setting. It's OK, though - "Mad Monster" was deservedly forgotten, while this effort is considerably more fun to watch.Played with some depth and sympathy by all the main actors and some well lit and shot B&W photographu,this little parable has a nice haunting ending and is unusual in that the victim gets to see his family before meeting his fate.I liked it a lot. It seems that Sam Katzman may have been less of a hack than I previously though.