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NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF
* * * (1980, 93 minutes, Rated R)
Hairy James Bond delivers.
For the uninitiated Paul Naschy is a Spanish actor-director who’s greatest claim to fame is playing
a werewolf named Waldemar Daninsky in about a dozen completely unrelated films. He’s often
referred to as the Spanish Lon Chaney, but after playing the same character in so many films that
are aggressively not sequels, I tend to think of him as a really hairy James Bond.
Or, put scientifically:
* * * (1980, 93 minutes, Rated R)
Hairy James Bond delivers.
For the uninitiated Paul Naschy is a Spanish actor-director who’s greatest claim to fame is playing
a werewolf named Waldemar Daninsky in about a dozen completely unrelated films. He’s often
referred to as the Spanish Lon Chaney, but after playing the same character in so many films that
are aggressively not sequels, I tend to think of him as a really hairy James Bond.
Or, put scientifically:
 |
Such films in Naschy’s “Hombre Lobo” series include Mark of the Wolf Man, Fury of the Wolf Man
and GoldenEye. Night of the Werewolf is also one of Paul Naschy’s “Hombre Lobo” films, and
one of his personal favorites. At least, that’s what Naschy says on the DVD in his intro to the film
-- he might just say that about all his movies to make them feel special.
The film opens in 18th century Hungary, where a vampire hottie is being charged with, er,
vampirism. While all her servants and cohorts are sentenced to being tortured, beheaded
and/or burned at the stake, Countess Von Hottie gets a slap on the wrist with life imprisonment.
See, beautiful people do have it better.
Also on the block is our man, Waldemar Daninsky, a Polish noble cursed with lycanthropy. And it’
s not even a good curse -- he has the Sign of the Pentagon instead of the Pentagram. Poor
bastard. For his wolfery, Waldy gets “the Mask of Shame” (!!) and his “dark heart pierced with the
holy cross made of wrought silver from the chalice of Malenza.” Waldy takes the news
remarkably well.
and GoldenEye. Night of the Werewolf is also one of Paul Naschy’s “Hombre Lobo” films, and
one of his personal favorites. At least, that’s what Naschy says on the DVD in his intro to the film
-- he might just say that about all his movies to make them feel special.
The film opens in 18th century Hungary, where a vampire hottie is being charged with, er,
vampirism. While all her servants and cohorts are sentenced to being tortured, beheaded
and/or burned at the stake, Countess Von Hottie gets a slap on the wrist with life imprisonment.
See, beautiful people do have it better.
Also on the block is our man, Waldemar Daninsky, a Polish noble cursed with lycanthropy. And it’
s not even a good curse -- he has the Sign of the Pentagon instead of the Pentagram. Poor
bastard. For his wolfery, Waldy gets “the Mask of Shame” (!!) and his “dark heart pierced with the
holy cross made of wrought silver from the chalice of Malenza.” Waldy takes the news
remarkably well.
+
=
| In case you’re wondering, the Mask of Shame does indeed look like an iron kabuki mask. |
Anyway, POP goes the cross to the heart and we funk out to the Opening Credits. Groovy!
Now in modern day, a bunch of sexy scientists
take a break from sexy lounging by the pool to
take a sexy trip to investigate the tomb of
Countess Von Hottie. They’re like the “Charlie’s
Angels” of archeology! The bad news is that one
of the sexy scientists has gone over to The Dark
Side, and is actively trying to resurrect Countess
Von Hottie [“spoiler”: she does]. The good news
is that at the same time, a pair of grave diggers
-- sort of the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of
the film, but without the verbal tennis --
accidentally resurrect the Polish werewolf. Wait,
that’s not really good news.
The film eventually breaks down to a battle of
wills, as in Will Waldy be able to foil Countess
Von Hottie’s plans before he wolfs out again?,
Will Waldy and the blonde sexy scientist end up
Happily Ever After? and Will any of the sexy
scientists find another reason to take their tops
off?
take a break from sexy lounging by the pool to
take a sexy trip to investigate the tomb of
Countess Von Hottie. They’re like the “Charlie’s
Angels” of archeology! The bad news is that one
of the sexy scientists has gone over to The Dark
Side, and is actively trying to resurrect Countess
Von Hottie [“spoiler”: she does]. The good news
is that at the same time, a pair of grave diggers
-- sort of the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of
the film, but without the verbal tennis --
accidentally resurrect the Polish werewolf. Wait,
that’s not really good news.
The film eventually breaks down to a battle of
wills, as in Will Waldy be able to foil Countess
Von Hottie’s plans before he wolfs out again?,
Will Waldy and the blonde sexy scientist end up
Happily Ever After? and Will any of the sexy
scientists find another reason to take their tops
off?
| Above: The sexiest discussion about archeology ever. |
It’s all pretty gothic and romantic, and not in a crappy emo Twilight kind of way. Classic Universal
horror films are clearly a heavy influence as well, with the emphasis on blood rather than gore
and a transformation sequence that features lots of falling behind furniture. To Naschy’s credit
(he also wrote and directed the film), this all comes off as charming rather than cheap.
There’s even some good spots of humor to enjoy. While discussing the increase in vampire-
related deaths with Waldy, one character blurts out, “There’s only one solution -- garlic! Tons of
garlic, till it comes spilling out of their asses!” I find this to be true in an appalling number of
situations.
horror films are clearly a heavy influence as well, with the emphasis on blood rather than gore
and a transformation sequence that features lots of falling behind furniture. To Naschy’s credit
(he also wrote and directed the film), this all comes off as charming rather than cheap.
There’s even some good spots of humor to enjoy. While discussing the increase in vampire-
related deaths with Waldy, one character blurts out, “There’s only one solution -- garlic! Tons of
garlic, till it comes spilling out of their asses!” I find this to be true in an appalling number of
situations.
Not only is this review for your reading pleasure,
it's also part of the B-Movie Meatloaf, a movie
club hosted by friends of The 'Bin, the guys over
at Strictly Splatter.
Definitely check out the other entries into the
Paul Naschy edition of B-Movie Meatloaf.
Or check out past B-Movie Meatloaf
contributions from The 'Bin:
it's also part of the B-Movie Meatloaf, a movie
club hosted by friends of The 'Bin, the guys over
at Strictly Splatter.
Definitely check out the other entries into the
Paul Naschy edition of B-Movie Meatloaf.
Or check out past B-Movie Meatloaf
contributions from The 'Bin:
| Official entry into the B-Movie Meatloaf! |