The curse of the werewolf is a well-known trope in folklore and mythology. It is believed that individuals can be afflicted with this curse and transform into a wolf or wolf-like creature during the full moon. This transformation is often accompanied by uncontrollable rage and a thirst for blood. The origins of the werewolf curse vary across cultures and time periods. In some stories, it is believed that a person can be cursed by a witch or bitten by another werewolf, passing on the curse. In other versions, it is said that certain individuals are born with the werewolf gene and will transform without any external triggers.
During its heyday, Hammer Films produced nine Dracula pictures, seven Frankenstein films, four Mummy movies, and a number of other horror related products, but only one Wolf Man-like film, and that was because Universal owned the rights to The Wolf Man (1941), which was based on the screenplay by Curt Siodmak (The Beast with Five Fingers), so The Curse of the Wolfman was instead based on the novel, The Werewolf of Paris by Guy Endore. It’s interesting to think what Hammer could have done with a Wolf Man franchise given the success that they had with the other Universal creatures, but instead we only have this single product to judge. Set in 18th Century Spain instead of Paris, Terence Fisher’s The Curse of the Werewolf is a striking and fascinating alternative to Lon Chaney Jr’s version of the Wolf Man mythos.
And whatever weakens the spirit of the beast warmth, fellowship, love raises the spirit of the soul So says the local priest John Gabriel who seems to know an awful lot about werewolves. The result is rich in symbolic implications that fire the imagination some critics have even noted a Christ parallel in Leon who is not only born on Christmas Day but also immediately held up in front of a painting of the Madonna and Child.
In other versions, it is said that certain individuals are born with the werewolf gene and will transform without any external triggers. The curse of the werewolf has long been associated with the dangers of the full moon. It is believed that the moon's gravitational pull somehow triggers the transformation, unleashing the primal instincts and desires of the afflicted person.
The Curse of the Werewolf
Spagna, XIX secolo: fuggita da varie vicissitudini, una povera ragazza muta dà alla luce, in casa del buon don Alfredo Carido, un bambino la notte del 25 dicembre. Leggenda vuole che un parto indesiderato che avviene il giorno della nascita del Signore implichi grandi disgrazie, ed effettivamente il bambino, Leon, sin da piccolo mostra un'innaturale propensione a sgranocchiare animali vivi nelle notti di luna piena.
Intelligente riscrittura Hammer del mito del licantropo, incentrata in particolar modo sul tema della "maledizione" ma non dettata dal caso, bensì generata dalla malvagità umana.
La prima mezz'ora è un autentico capolavoro, teatro della crudeltà come probabilmente mai era stato rappresentato al cinema fino ad allora: mentre i paesani si lamentano della turpitudine del laido e crudele marchese che li governa, quest'ultimo dileggia e fa rinchiudere nelle celle del palazzo un povero questuante, che - molti anni dopo, sempre incarcerato e ormai ridotto ad uno stato bestiale - stupra l'unica persona che era stata gentile con lui.
Il resto non è altrettanto epocale: la parte dedicata all'infanzia di Leon è ben fatta ma priva di intensità, la love story con Cristina è tenera ma diluisce ulteriormente il ritmo e solo nell'acrobatico finale il film ritrova un po' del vigore perso in precedenza.
L'Implacabile Condanna conserva (sin dai titoli di testa, durante i quali l'inquadratura si sofferma sugli occhi piangenti del "mostro") il tono malinconico del film di George Waggner pur in un contesto ruvido, sanguigno e carnale; se Oliver Reed ha una fisicità non dissimile da quella di Lon Chaney Jr., il suo sguardo riesce ad esprimere una maggiore quantità di stati d'animo e la scena nella quale, con i denti insanguinati, si gira verso il suo carceriere merita di essere considerata una delle più iconiche della storia della Hammer.
Rather well made werewolf flick. How the main protagonist becomes a werewolf is quite interesting. His father was a really hairy old beggar and his mother a mute slave girl. And he was born on Christmas eve which according to the film is an insult to god. All this stuff combined apparently results in to a werewolf.
The monster looks really nice and the transformation sequence is also well made, so thats a definite plus, and the story is interesting although not entirely original apart from the origin of the werewolf. Its heavily influenced by The Wolf Man. The film looks nice in color and has a fair amount of bright red blood and gore. At least for a 1960s film. Not a total success but still a solid werewolf film.
Published angryblonde Sep 09 2010Another huge classic. Reed's facial expression during the party with Jose (scene also appears in movie trailer) will stay in my mind forever.
Published frankenoise Dec 21 2009It's so hard for me to take this movie seriously when the werewolf looks so cute. The plot of this story is pretty good and it is a different take but it's fairly slow, hardly any gore, and the ending is bad. Why does the werewolf insist on climbing every building instead of just running away? I would have like to have seen him get shot and then fall off the building, which is what I thought was going to happen, but instead he just gets shot and that's it. fade to credits. Not the best I've seen but it is an interesting story.
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Rather well made werewolf flick. How the main protagonist becomes a werewolf is quite interesting. His father was a really hairy old beggar and his mother a mute slave girl. And he was born on Christmas eve which according to the film is an insult to god. All this stuff combined apparently results in to a werewolf.
This transformation is often depicted as a painful and agonizing process, as bones break and reshape, and fur sprouts from the skin. One of the most well-known characteristics of the werewolf curse is the loss of control over one's actions. When transformed, the individual becomes a creature driven solely by instinct, often attacking and killing without remorse. This loss of inhibition and morality adds another layer of danger to the legend. In many tales, the werewolf curse is seen as a tragic affliction. The person cursed with this condition often lives in fear and isolation, unable to control their own actions. They may even become a danger to their own loved ones, leading to feelings of guilt and desperation. Attempts to break the curse of the werewolf are varied and often unsuccessful. In some stories, it is believed that killing the original werewolf who cursed them can lift the curse. Others believe that finding a true love or performing specific rituals may break the curse. However, these solutions are often elusive and only add to the sense of hopelessness associated with the condition. In modern times, the curse of the werewolf has become a popular theme in books, movies, and television shows. These stories often explore the psychological and emotional toll of the curse, as well as the societal implications of being a monster. The werewolf curse continues to captivate our imaginations, reminding us of the darkness that resides within us all..
Reviews for "The symbolism of the werewolf cast in art"
1. Mike - 2/5 stars - "I was really disappointed with The Curse of the Werewolf cast. The plot was extremely predictable and lacked any suspense. The acting was mediocre at best, with the actors delivering their lines without any depth or emotion. The special effects were also subpar, with cheap-looking werewolf costumes that were more laughable than scary. Overall, this movie felt like a low-budget, B-movie that didn't live up to its potential."
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "I had high hopes for The Curse of the Werewolf cast, but it fell flat for me. The story seemed promising, but the execution was lackluster. The pacing was off, with a lot of unnecessary filler scenes that dragged on. The acting was wooden, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The werewolf transformation scenes were poorly done and looked more like bad makeup jobs than believable transformations. This movie just didn't deliver the scares or thrills I was expecting."
3. John - 1/5 stars - "The Curse of the Werewolf cast was a complete waste of time. The plot was nonsensical and poorly developed, jumping from one random scene to another without any coherence. The acting was terrible, with overacting and cheesy dialogue. The special effects were laughably bad, especially the werewolf scenes which were clearly done with cheap CGI. Watching this movie was a painful experience, and I would not recommend it to anyone."
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - "I was hoping for a good werewolf movie with The Curse of the Werewolf cast, but I was left disappointed. The story was predictable and lacked any originality. The acting was mediocre, and the characters felt one-dimensional. The werewolf scenes were poorly executed, with clumsy choreography and unconvincing special effects. Overall, this movie failed to deliver the chills and excitement I was looking for."
5. Alex - 1/5 stars - "The Curse of the Werewolf cast was a complete disaster. The plot was uninteresting and cliche, following the same tired tropes of other werewolf movies. The acting was horrendous, with stiff performances that lacked any believability. The special effects were laughable, with tacky werewolf costumes that were more comical than frightening. Save yourself the agony and skip this movie."