The 8 Best Werewolf Movies You Need To See — Down The Cellar (2024)

When it comes to Werewolves, most people roll their eyes. The idea of a man turning into a savage beast when the moon is full sounds completely preposterous, but then again, so do vampires, zombies, and other monsters.

Could it just be that audiences hold too much of a varied expectation of what makes a compelling werewolf - whether in appearance, demeanor, behaviour, or size?

Or is it simply because most werewolf movies just suck? Well that in itself sucks, because I love werewolves. They terrify me when they’re done well, and the notion of trying to escape from one often fills my big silly brain with nightmares.

This may be controversial to some, but here’s my list of the top ten werewolf movies you should watch:

8. The Wolfman

A remake of the 1941 classic, this rendition holds its own. Boasting strong performances from Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, and Emily Blunt, it earns its spot on the list.

The film offers an engaging plot set against a captivating backdrop. But its failure to fully embrace the werewolf transformation holds it back. Despite its title, "The Wolfman", a full transformation reigns supreme over half-measures. More beast, please!

7. Howl

This movie was an unexpected gem. Countless times I found myself stood in HMV looking at the Blu-Ray to assess whether it was worth the purchase.

Eventually, I succumbed and bought it for £6.99 or something. Whatever I paid for it back then certainly wasn’t wasted. I love the self-contained setting on the train, but the characters were a little forgettable.

While the werewolf visuals were passable, the heavy reliance on CGI may have detracted from their impact. Nonetheless, the movie delivered a solid dose of thrills that kept me engaged throughout.

6. The Wolf Of Snow Hollow

First off, Jim Cummings is awesome. Thunder Road was great and his second feature outing, The Wolf Of Snow Hollow is just as good.

Obviously, it’s a completely different film, but with some terrific cinematography and some really chilling scenes, he manages to pull off (without spoiling stuff) a really great werewolf movie.

There are quite a lot of shocking attack scenes, each one more visceral than the last, with some brutality dished out to some unsuspecting helpless victims.

5. Ginger Snaps

I once said Ginger Snaps was my favourite film… before I’d even seen it, which was a weird thing to say. But when I was sixteen, I saw the trailer and instantly thought it would be.

It wasn’t, but it was still a really good film.

With its masterful build-up and a gripping crescendo ending, I wholeheartedly recommend giving this movie another watch, especially for werewolf horror fans who may have overlooked it.

Not sure about the sequels though - I never saw them, and don’t intend to.

4. Eight For Silver

Boyd Holbrook leads the way in this creepy, period horror movie. Eight For Silver did a great job of creating a chilling atmosphere, with some brilliant acting and excellent cinematography. It just goes to show that period horrors are here to stay.

What works well is the new take on the traditional werewolf lore, offering a fresh and twisted idea on this fantastic mythical beast - as well as adding some other supernatural scares along with it.

This film had a troubled release back in 2021 but is currently available on UK Netflix and is well worth a watch. A total hit in my eyes.

3. The Howling

Werewolves with bunny ears. In all fairness, The Howling werewolves still look rad. They might look like giant teddy bears at first but when you really observe them, they’re terrifying.

This movie might live in the shadows of An American Werewolf in London, but it really deserves to stand on its own two feet (pun intended).

"The Howling" offers a wealth of chilling scenes, including a great transformation scene. Its practical effects reflect the film's pioneering spirit in pushing the boundaries of special effects for its time, similar to Werewolf In London, which is why we should all love prosthetics!

However, what truly sets "The Howling" apart is its compelling narrative, which delves into themes of primal fear and the darkness lurking within humanity.

2. An American Werewolf in London

A classic. It’s often referred to as the best werewolf movie ever made. Sometimes I tend to agree - ask ‘Down The Cellar’s’ other writer, Ash - because it’s his favourite movie.

The wolf looks incredible and the scares are terrific - especially the London underground chase scene.

Its beast-like shape with its deep yellow eyes makes it a unique and instantly recognisable werewolf. We also have to mention the transformation scene too. Incredible work and a must-watch for all horror fans, let alone werewolf fans. Masterpiece.

1. Dog Soldiers

OK. This might not be a surprise to some. Dog Soldiers is, hands down, my favourite movie of all time, and my favourite werewolf movie too.

It’s thrilling, scary, funny, gory, exciting and a bloody good time. The characters are fantastic, the story is brilliant, the werewolves look seriously f*cking cool and the action is spot on.

All done for the low budget of around a million quid, which in movie making, is peanuts. Something we can probably all agree on is that using prosthetics for monsters in movies works so much better than CGI.

This film, released in 2002, still holds up today. It’s a fantastic roller coaster of a ride and one to certainly keep you on the edge of your seat. Check it out!

And there you have it - the best werewolf movies you need to see.

Crafting a quality werewolf film is undoubtedly challenging, requiring a delicate balance of humour, terror, and the creation of a truly frightening werewolf - with eyebrows that join in the middle.

However, with a growing appreciation for the genre, we can only hope that the studios, filmmakers and the powers that be, create more werewolf movies that will continue to thrill us, rather than bore us.

Here at Down The Cellar, we’re a bunch of werewolf-loving nerds, so you’ll probably see many other articles that include the exquisite beasts, but if you’re interested, check out the other article on here called ‘Dog Soldiers: My Biggest Screenwriting Inspiration’.

Or if you don’t agree with this list, then let us know in the comments.