Completing our research on classic movie monsters and the recipe to their success, we reach our final of the Big Four, and my favorite, Wolf Man.
The Short of It
The most memorable monsters are continually being resurrected on the big screen, like the current undertaking by Universal to reboot such classic movie monsters as Dracula, The Mummy, Wolf Man, and Frankenstein.
I want to know why. And why don’t we have any new movie monsters that rival the Big Four.
And I want to find out what is needed to create one.
The Long of It
Over the last month we have studied three of the four classic monsters. Today we take a look at Wolf Man and why he has lasted through the ages and why, in general, werewolves—like vampires—are still fascinating characters in fiction and on screen whether they be heroes or villains.
First, let’s look to see if wolfman fits into the guidelines we have already established in prior blogs.
- He must be created from the imagination of a writer.
- The monster should be so detestable—in actions or appearance or both—that society and even his maker reject him and try to destroy him. This gives the monster something with which we as humans can empathize.
- His depravity is derived from something unnatural like the dead coming back to life, the undead, or being composed of the parts of numerous dead people.
- Love—either as its main squeeze or as a backstory for the journey of a monster.
- The monster must be brought to life on stage or screen.
Probe-Filing
Does Wolf Man fit into our guidelines? Hmmm. Yes and no. Let’s take it point by point.
POINT 2: In the original Wolf Man, we empathize with him as the human and detest him as the werewolf. As a human, he is unable to control his monster and feels remorse when he kills. He hates the evil within him. As a werewolf he verges on cannibalism and, at the very least, a malicious serial killer. The poem used in every Wolf Man movie:
- He must be created from the imagination of a writer.
- The monster should be so detestable—in actions or appearance or both—that society and even his maker reject him and try to destroy him. This gives the monster something with which we as humans can empathize.
- His depravity is derived from something unnatural like the dead coming back to life, the undead, or being composed of the parts of numerous dead people.
- Love—either as its main squeeze or as a backstory for the journey of a monster.
- The monster must be brought to life on stage or screen.
- It must possess a human component—one with which the audience or reader can share.
Do the other monsters fit into the sixth point?
- Frankenstein is rejected by his creator.
- Dracula is rejected by society.
- The Mummy dies for love.
- Wolfman is unable to control his change, though he wants to.
blog post #101
New science fiction blog posts every Monday on The Probe.
- Strangers Within: An Introduction to Walk Ins - May 26, 2022
- Does Life Exist On Other Planets? - May 5, 2022
- Do Water Bears Offer Answers for Earthlings? - April 21, 2022
Psychotic murderers who enjoy taunting their victims scare the beejezus out of me. Have you ever seen The Strangers… I think that movie epitomizes fear to me.
I love the wrap up of your 4 classic monsters and the tenements they are held up against. I enjoy how monsters explore the dark sides of ourselves, the moral dilemma of, say, living off the blood of others. This was a wonderful exploration.
Love your comments Dilloboi. You are always so insightful. And yes psychotic, serial killers who torture their victims scare the beejezus out of me as well.That is sooooo real! That’s why I like monsters. Especially the classics. They’re not real. So I get that scare, thrill ride all the while knowing such things don’t exist.
Or do they?