Review of I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957) by Mark B — 02 Sep 2011

"I Was a Teenage Werewolf" starred a youthful Michael Landon of "Little House on the Prairie", "Highway to Heaven" as well as "Bonanza".

This movie long predates movies such as "An American Werewolf in Paris" and "An American Werewolf in London" and serves as a period piece as well as a horror film given its setting of "teenage America" where teens looked for places to be together in groups even as their parents sought to hold on to their authority over them and their lives and choices.

A very good film, a very good premiere starring performance by Landon and the supporting cast (especially the first male victim of the werewolf). The origin of this werewolf appears to be either due to a serum of some sorts, thereby making this an apt cautionary tale about the dangers of irresponsible science (especially that based upon evolutionary theory), or perhaps unknown genetic or other traits.

The mythology of werewolfs is introduced here as well through an employee who is not taken seriously by a policeman. I give this film 7 out of 10, even if the werewolf makeup seems less realistic by today's standards.

By the way, the above description is incorrect in saying that Tony hit his friend for no reason, Tony hit his friend for startling him.