10 Most Terrifying Horror Movie Werewolves
7. Wolfen
A surprisingly thoughtful and ambitious musing on the plight of the indigenous American, Wolfen had the misfortune to be released in 1981, the year of The Howling and An American Werewolf In London. The least financially successful of the triptych of lupine horrors, Wolfen is an underrated and distinctive gem in the canon.
Anchored by a typically reliable Albert Finney, Wolfen sees hard boiled New York City blighted by a series of bizarre killings. Finney’s retired detective Dewey Wilson is recruited to unpack the mystery, and finds himself embroiled in an ancient, bloody legend.
The wolves themselves forego the usual visual body horror - they’re basically just actual wolves - but the mystical power they’re bestowed with makes them particularly scary. Their heightened senses and channelling of ancient Native American energy means they’re the apex predators of a dangerous city - they’re pushed back by the end of the film, but they’ll return to prey on humanity once again.
While they don’t fit the mould of the traditional movie werewolf, the sharing of souls between animals and humans is the key notion of the film. For a wholly different take on the werewolf genre, this one is well worth a watch.