A Field Guide to Cinematic Wolf Men

There are dozens ofwerewolfmovies , but only a select few core the graphic symbol who popularized the Wolf Man as part of the Universal Monsters pantheon . WithLeigh Whannell’sWolf Man — a Universal Monsters flip that re - names Lawrence “ Larry ” Talbot to Blake as part of its rebooted storyline — arrive this workweek , we ’re await back at all the big Wolf Men past .

( If you ’re more of a vampire fan , io9 ’s also got a “ Field Guide to Cinematic Draculas ” from a few years back to sink your dentition into ) .

The Wolf Man (1941)

He followed the Universal Monsters ’ now - classic deal on Dracula , Frankenstein , the Bride of Frankenstein , and the Invisible Man into theater of operations , but Lon Chaney Jr. wee-wee an unerasable belief as Larry Talbot , a fish out of H2O in his ancestral Wales home even before his fateful brush with a very finicky kind of masher .

Some excellent subtext is underway here : Claude Raines , star ofThe Invisible Man , play Larry ’s estranged father , and Bela Lugosi , CountDraculahimself , play the werewolf ( also named Bela ) that creates our Wolf Man . The Wolf Manis , of course , now the cultural touchstone for every loup-garou movie that followed , from Chaney ’s memorable transformation scene to the hand ’s incorporation of monster lore . That let in the power of silver and the “ wolfbane ” poem that foregrounds the idea that “ even a man who is sodding in philia ” can fall victim to the loup-garou swearing .

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)

Lon Chaney Jr. come back to star , and Curt Siodmak once again book , in this follow - up toThe Wolf Manthat picks back up with Larry Talbot ( retconning his tragical on - screen decease at the end of that motion-picture show by open with his full moon - enable revival ) . Chaney ’s carbon monoxide gas - star is also , once again , Bela Lugosi , but this time around he dons tons of make - up to fiddle Frankenstein ’s monster .

Now fully aware of his creature status , Larry must not only grapple with being a werewolf , but also the fact that the authorities do n’t recall werewolves are veridical — inconvenience that drive him to seek out Dr. Frankenstein , or at least the weird - skill promissory note he left behind , to find a cure . He finds instead the frozen - in - frappe monster , who proves hard to handle once he ’s brought back to undead spirit . Universal ’s first maraud into monster crossover did n’t off with critics at the sentence , but it ’s since become a fan front-runner , not the least because of a boozy , toe - tapping melodic telephone number when the characters are convinced to give ear a nearby “ Festival of the New Wine . ” Both monsters perish at the goal of act three … or do they ?

House of Frankenstein (1944)

A Curt Siodmak story about a unbalanced scientist ( act by Boris Karloff ) with a Dr. Frankenstein - esque plan to craft a new body for his hunchbacked assistant forms the basis for this crossing over , which also features Chaney as the Wolf Man , John Carradine as Count Dracula , and Glenn Strange as Frankenstein ’s goliath . Things are set in motion by an unbelievable succession of events ( a prison escapism with the assistance of an earthquake ; a vampire revitalization after springing his corpse from a jaunt sideshow … and then a moderately fleet re - expiry by sunlight ) , and Wolf Man and the Monster figure the story when they ’re revived from their own frozen tomb .

Despite his consideration , Larry retain enough beast magnetic force to stir romantic feelings in a local woman , though it does n’t cease well for either of them , with the Wolf Man succumbing to silver bullets . Or does he ?

House of Dracula (1945)

The gang ’s all here ( Chaney as the Wolf Man ; Carradine as Dracula ; Strange as the Monster ) again , though this clip around both the Wolf ManandDracula descend on an eccentric scientist ’s castle lair hope to bring around their monstrous complaint . Frankenstein ’s monster , who apparently exit in quicksand withHouse of Frankenstein ’s mad Doctor of the Church , is brought back to life ( again ) to bring more topsy-turvyness to the legal proceeding .

While much ofHouse of Dracularevolves around vampires — never trust Dracula , especially when blood transfusions are underway — it is notable that Larry is in reality cured in this one thanks to a brain process that preclude him from transforming into his lycanthrope form . Dracula drop dead , the unrestrained scientist dies , the Monster exit … but Larry Talbot lives , heroically at that !

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

At last , Universal realize what its monster movies were overleap all this time : joke and gags!Abbott and Costello Meet Frankensteinwas such a hit — revive the waning Universal Monsters genre in the process — the clowning duad ship on a subsequent run of similarly entitle movies , bump the Mummy , the Invisible Man , and others . But it ’s hard to beat the hijinks here , which have Larry Talbot ( Chaney , of row ) as a key figure on the periphery of a story about Dracula ’s ( Bela Lugosi ) attempts to rustle up a unexampled brain for Frankenstein ’s monster ( Glenn Strange ) . Larry ( in wolf kind ) and the Count ( in bat variety ) ostensibly die at the ending , but we all know that means nothing in the ever - revolving beast - feature circuit of lifespan .

Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)

Mountain - sized doer Donald Gibb(Revenge of the Nerds)plays “ Larry the Wolfman ” in this goofy comedy star Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley Jr. as tabloid newsman place to Transylvania to investigate an apparent sighting of … Frankenstein ’s giant ? They find , of track , the grievous bodily harm motherlode , uncovering a werewolf , a vampire , a swamp affair , and a shady Dr. who just might have craft a demon made of human body portion . Critic Leonard Maltin famously have the tepidly receivedTransylvania 6 - 5000a one - word review ( “ Stinks ! ” ) , but the mould is ridiculous enough to garner at least some oddity ; in summation to the leads , it features Geena Davis , Carol Kane , Norman Fell , a pre - scandal Jeffrey Jones , and a pre - Seinfeld(and pre - his own malicious gossip ) Michael Richards .

The Monster Squad (1987)

While not a canyon entrance in the Universal Monsters pantheon — for one thing , Fred Dekker ’s horror comedy was not made by Universal — this cult favorite feature a group of monster - obsessed Thomas Kyd who re - think their paragon worship when the Universal Monsters do to life story in their neighborhood and cause near - apocalyptic troubles . Frankenstein ’s monster is the only coolheaded guy in the bunch , but it ’s the hirsute menace among them that gives rise toThe Monster Squad ’s most quotable railway line : “ Wolfman ’s got nards ! ”

Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000)

After they met Frankenstein ( and his ogre ) in 1999 , the liven critters returned for more Universal Monster mashing in 2000 , with veteran part actor Maurice LaMarche(Futurama , Pinky and the Brain , The Real Ghostbusters)co - starring as Lawrence Talbot — the new next - door neighbor to Alvin , Simon , Theodore , and Dave . turn out Mr. Talbot has a secret ( can you guess what it is ? ) , but amid the mild - mannered frightsAlvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfmandoes deliver a new cure for loup-garou - philosophy : if one werewolf bite another werewolf , the effect repeal the curse in both victims .

Van Helsing (2004)

Director Stephen Sommers make cinematic delight with Brendan Fraser’sMummymovies , but unluckily could not call forth the same mojo in this likewise big - budget , effects - laden adventure star Hugh Jackman as the legendary lamia hunter . There ’s not really a “ Wolf Man ” character — most of the drama revolves around Count Dracula ( Richard Roxburgh ) , his nefarious Bride , and his even more villainous Frankenstein ’s monster - neighboring human race - domination scheme .

ButVan Helsingis very much turn off from the Universal Monsters cloth . It fling in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde , and weave in a werewolf plot of ground affect the afflicted brother of Kate Beckinsale ’s character reference , who briefly passes the curse to Van Helsing … which sour out to be the thing that ’s postulate to vote out Dracula , so everybody wins ?

House of the Wolf Man (2009)

I actually had n’t hear ofHouse of the Wolf Manbefore I started compiling this Wolf Man inclination , but the fact that this indie moving picture shot in grim - and - blank stars Ron Chaney — Lon Chaney Jr. ’s grandson — crap it something of a curiosity . He does n’t play the Wolf Man , though ; he plays a huffy scientist who ferment various familiar ogre ( let in , yes , a loup-garou ) on greedy would - be inheritors of his portion .

The Wolfman (2010)

Joe Johnston(Captain America : The First Avenger , The Rocketeer , Jurassic Park III)directed this oftentimes - forgotten Universal press release that still managed to garner a Best Makeup Oscar for Rick Baker ( who win the very first award given in that class for 1981’sAn American Werewolf in London ) and collaborator Dave Elsey .

So the make - up is not bad ! The rest , unfortunately for a cast that includes Benicio del Toro , Anthony Hopkins , Emily Blunt , and Hugo Weaving , is not , though it is more or less a remake of the 1941 archetype .

Wolf Man (2025)

Leigh Whannell’sInvisible Man(2020 ) gave new hope to Universal ’s dream of recapturing its goliath - picture cape , update the original picture ’s taradiddle with literal panic and well timed themes . Will hisWolf Man , starring Christopher Abbott as a non - Larry Talbot take on the title character , and Julia Garner as the man - wolf ’s understandably freak out alienated married woman , generate alike winner ? It arrives this Friday , January 17 , to make interview yaup … hopefully in joy .

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Wolf Man (2025)