the curse of the werewolf (cinema history class)

Keith continued his month of Hammer films with 1961's The Curse of the Werewolf, which was a creative reimagining of the werewolf legend. I say it was a reimagining because there were several ways in which it distanced itself from the standard werewolf story. Of course, every retelling of some classic legend is going to add new elements or ignore established ones. But this was a radical departure.

This story doesn't involve the usual trope of the werewolf hunting people, who then become werewolves themselves. Instead, we follow Leon, born a werewolf, as he grows into a man, dealing with his curse.. In some ways, the movie centers on how his loved ones deal with it. Love, as we see, keeps the werewolf's curse at bay.

That's because, as explained by a priest, the werewolf's body is inhabited by a human soul and a wolf spirit. Love and goodness nourish the soul and weaken the wolf, while negativity, hatred and sin nourish the wolf. So when he celebrates payday with a coworker by going to a bar and hanging around with prostitutes, the wolf asserts itself. But when he finds true love with a rich girl who is willing to throw everything away to be with him, the wolf subsides.

With that, the film is like a fairytale. And, at times it felt like I was watching a Disney film. The chirping birds, the dancing through a flowered glen, and the narration at the beginning lent that mood. On the other hand, there were times (mostly near the beginning), when this felt like Poe adaptation.

In addition to being an original take on a classic, this was sinply told very well and very enjoyably.