Why The Wolf Man Is Still The Best Werewolf Movie Ever Made

It’s been almost 80 years since the release of Lon Chaney Jr.’s The Wolf Man, but the iconic werewolf movie has never been topped. One of the classic Universal monster movies, 1941’s The Wolf Man was actually Universal’s second attempt at a werewolf feature, coming six years after the much less successful Werewolf of London. It was this second effort that formed the template for future cinematic adaptations of the werewolf myth. Recognized for its inventive visuals and commanding lead performance, The Wolf Man was a big success.

In the years since werewolves have become a mainstay of the horror genre. Star Lon Chaney Jr. went on to reprise the Wolf Man role in four sequels, providing inspiration for countless movies to come. In 2010, Universal released The Wolfman, a remake starring Anthony Hopkins and Benicio del Toro. Despite the impressive cast, The Wolfman was a commercial failure. It was also one of many attempts at creating a new version of the myth that failed to leave its mark. So after all this time, why is The Wolf Man still the best?

Firstly, 1941’s The Wolf Man understands what’s special about the werewolf myth. Most other horror movies treat werewolves as simple monsters, but there’s rarely any true recognition of the tragic nature of their curse. This depiction of the personal journey of the victim has never been so well-realized as it was in the original Wolf Man. Those few films that get the themes right have also never been able to replicate Wolf Man’s meticulous filmmaking or elegant script.

The Wolf Man isn’t just a terrifying tale, it’s a tragedy. This element is often forgotten as many horror movies depict werewolves like simple beasts. Franchises like Twilight or Underworld even show lycanthropy almost as a superpower, even putting them head-to-head with vampires in a supernatural showdown. While the transition from human to wolf poses a tremendous visual opportunity, the real power of the werewolf myth is lost when the focus shifts away from the victim. In The Wolf Man, Talbot is a good man stricken with a curse over which he has no control, causing him to commit murder against his will, and the movie hammers home the horror – and tragedy – of this plight.

Lon Chaney Jr. also delivered arguably the performance of his career as the disarmingly miserable Larry Talbot. It was the part he was born to play, with his sad eyes and large frame providing the perfect contrast for the man-turned beast. Legendary make-up artist and Universal movie monster veteran Jack Pierce – who had already created the famed movie version of Frankenstein’s Monster – also designed what is still the definitive movie werewolf. Many modern werewolf movies see the formula as a source for campy schlock, while others turn them into generic monsters. Perhaps the most noteworthy exception is John Landis’s An American Werewolf in London, which combines a tragic, personal journey with Rick Baker’s marvelous practical werewolf effects. Even then, the film owes many of its key beats to its 1941 predecessor. Even with so many years gone by, Universal’s tragic monster classic, The Wolf Man remains the most enduring and poignant version of the story.