I'm a fan of werewolf movies and this one confused me. He kills his wife for fun since his wolf wasn't threatened. But he kills his son because his wolf is jealous. So he can control his kills, that does take some of the fun out of the movie. The story seem more complicated than it needed to be. Why involve the dad at all.
Next, the wolf kills seemed unrealistic, but I haven't been chased by a werewolf, just an opinion. The wolf had to break the sound barrier when he hunted (the father).
I did like the transformations, and hope the reboot (WiKi) follows the same design. The soundtrack was also chilling.
The original is scary good because less was more. This movie put the trauma in your face. The original weaved a story of horror and compassion.
If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world
reply
share
10 years ago
[deleted]
first-things-first
10 years ago
I see your point. I may have been reading more into the portrayal of control because of other stories I have read about the wolf and desire. But Sir John did say he didn't want Ben and his fiancée to leave. The man used the power of the wolf to get what he wants?
I also wonder if the power of the wolf seduced him to let go of his humanity, gave him the opportunity, or revealed what was lurking all the time.
If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world
reply
share
evolution_500_2
10 years ago
The original wasn't really good, tbh. It had a wonderful atmosphere and soundtrack, but the plot and actors were kind of off.
reply
share
first-things-first
10 years ago
I always try and watch the old Universal monster movies. The cinematography and soundtracks do go along way in providing a good strory. But we disagree on the plot and the actors, it's my fave.
If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world
reply
share
evolution_500_2
10 years ago
It had been mine as well as a kid, but a lot of things about the original are pretty dated and, in some parts at least, eyebrow-raising.
reply
share
first-things-first
10 years ago
Yes it is dated, and the eyebrow raising is part of its charm to me. I don't hold this movie to current standards. But there are movies that I do.
If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world
reply
share
evolution_500_2
10 years ago
I'm not basing it on current standards, I'm comparing it to other movies of the time. Compared to some of those, Val Lewton films included (which oddly the film kind of tried to be), it failed in parts. I kind of wished they had went with the original screenplay and didn't have Lon Chaney Jr. Every time I see him address Claude Rains as "dad" I always burst out laughing - the mom must be enormous!
reply
share
first-things-first
10 years ago
Understood. There was enough in the story for me to be frightened when I first saw it, and for it to keep its mystery today.
Don't wake up giving yourself a pass. Challenge yourself to be better
reply
share