The Werewolf (1956)

Directed by Fred F. Sears. Starring Don Megowan, Joyce Holden, Steven Ritch, S. John Launer, George Lynn, Harry Lauter, Ken Christy, Eleanore Tanin, Kim Charney.

Plodding B-grade werewolf picture, more yawns than chills. An unkempt amnesiac wanders into a small town, quickly attracts the attention of law enforcement and doctors after attacking a mugger and a deputy. There’s novelty value in having the lupine transformations be the result of bad medicinal side effects instead of the bite of another lycanthrope, and the Big Bear Lake locations are a plus, but it’s predictable and illogical otherwise. Most of the fights/frights lack animalistic savagery and just look like a couple guys (one of them in furry makeup) wrasslin’ ‘round until someone yells cut. Fans of 50s monster movies may find the formulaic plot points and marginal makeup/transformation effects more charming than tiresome; others will rate the movie no better than a forgettable time-killer after they’ve watched The Wolf Man and An American Werewolf in London enough times to want something different.Journeyman director Fred Sears provides the opening narration.

52/100