Monday, October 17, 2011

Werewolves, Whenwolves, and Whywolves



It is tragic--nay, criminal--that a major film about werewolves has not been released that features this song.



Using odd music is nothing new in werewolf films. I'm actually sad I could not find the ballerina transformation from Howling III, as it uses some music from Prokofiev's Cinderella.



Midnight, and Cinderella turns back into herself, and a ballerina turns onto a werewolf on stage with each pirouette. It's a genius sequence in a terrible movie.



With time, our transformations became more sophisticated, i.e.: more gory. I admit that watching this was not that scary for me as I had seen a "making of" on Lights, Camera, Action. This was a mild turning-point in my life as I had to ask, "How did they do that?" instead of just watching the terrible, terrible moments on screen. I was less afraid and more intrigued by the technical aspects of how a thing was done.



Lest we forget that being a werewolf is a curse. It is painful and horrible and turns us into something we are not. It is not desirable at all. It ruins lives and destroys relationships (and throats). The entire idea behind werewolves were they were monsters, yes, but victims as well. They had no control over their transformation. It took control of their lives and dragged them through hell.



Ah.....forget everything I said. There's no art left in the world.

5 comments:

Kris Overstreet said...

As you might guess, I've had call to do a little bit of research into this subject. }:-{D

All stories of werewolves from the eighteenth century or before are pretty much unified on this: werewolves sought out the ability and reveled in it. Transformations required a deliberate act of will, sometimes a quite complex one (disrobing, jumping into water, performing a ritual, making a pact with Satan, etc.).

One author I've read puts the change of werewolf myth from willing monster to innocent victim to the publication of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, which though not a werewolf story shares aspects with the modern mythos. It's a decent theory, at least.

Dr. Mila said...

Interesting! The only case I've seen of the ability (curse?) being sought after was that dreadful James Spader film, Wolf. But then, I'm looking at movie lore and not the actual legends....

Unknown said...

You forgot Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman.

Dr. Mila said...

I FORGOT NOTHING.

Unknown said...

Interesting thing about Alvin and The Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman, the plot involves a school production of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde...