The Curse of the Werewolf

Ian West4.0

Lavish werewolf yarn from Hammer adds some original and interesting lore to the mythos plus Oliver Fucking Reed.The whole setup with the jerkoff royalty mocking the beggar before casting him away in some dungeon for years to be forgotten is a string and memorable opening. Love this movie, love how it feels like two totally different flicks that meld together wonderfully—ripe with atmosphere, colors, sexy man beast Oliver Reed (and how he works in a winery lmao how fitting), and the GREAT werewolf makeup that’s more akin Monster Squad than Chaney Jr.One of the great ‘what if’ scenarios is a series of werewolf flicks from Hammer... 4 or 5 more of these over a 10+ year period with an increasingly sweatier, heavier, drunker, and sexier Oliver Reed lumbering about in that makeup—the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Anyways, one of my favorite werewolf yarns.

Slig0014.0

The Curse of the Werewolf is Hammer's only werewolf film, and it's a real mini epic - the ninety minute runtime spectacularly incorporates a story spanning over several decades. The first act is a brilliantly conceived origin story for the werewolf itself. The whole "curse" aspect is key - the werewolf is created by the cruelty of the upper classes, here depicted as a terrible bunch of oafs. The central character is every bit the victim of his affliction. The film takes place in eighteenth century Spain and is helped immensely by the typically lavish Hammer set design. Terence Fisher creates a believable world for the story to take place. It's something of a slow burn, with headline actor Oliver Reed not turning up until halfway through and most of the horror saved up for the third act. It's still an engrossing watch - there's obvious influence from The Wolf Man but Curse of the Werewolf very much tells its own story. Oliver Reed fits the bill perfectly as the tormented victim. The werewolf make up nicely recalls the 1941 classic. It's a shame really that this didn't lead to a series as was the case with Frankenstein, Dracula and The Mummy; but it's still a nicely contained story in itself, and another classic from Hammer.

Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine3.5

RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOLSPOOKTOBER VI: THE HAMMER OF HORRORFisher and Hammer present their take on classic werewolf stories, featuring lavish and stunning set designs that immerse you in the narrative. The subplot involving the child, along with the way the film sometimes feels almost like a vampire movie—especially in how people can become infected—adds a unique twist. The director and team make the film feel like a mini-epic. As always, the cinematography is outstanding. I especially liked the opening, with the howling sound effects and the reveal of the eyes; the lighting sets the atmosphere perfectly.Reed is excellent as the leading man, doing a great job of injecting the character with enough charm to make you sympathize with him. This is important, as it makes the more tragic moments much more effective. The makeup work is impressive—the wolf here appears less hairy, especially in the face, but I liked the design. The transformation scene isn’t as graphic or spectacular as those in later films, but I appreciated the close-ups of the hands and the gradual hair growth.All in all, if you enjoy werewolf movies, I’d say this one is worth checking out. It tweaks the story just enough to make it unique while blending in some of that classic Hammer charm.SPOOKTOBER VI: THE HAMMER OF HORRORTODAY SCHEDULEThe Curse of the WerewolfCaptain CleggTaste of Fear