Best Modern Werewolf Movies

Best Modern Werewolf Movies

Dog Soldiers

First up, my favorite werewolf movie of all time (and one of my favorite movies of all time, period), Neil Marshall's Dog Soldiers. A group of soldiers on what they think is a routine training mission in the Scottish woods run afoul of some truly frightening looking werewolves and must put all their training to use if they want to make it to morning. Featuring the uniquely talented Sean Pertwee and solid hero Kevin McKidd as two of our protagonists and Game of Thrones' Liam Cunningham as a sinister Special Ops Captain, Dog Soldiers is an unmissable treat.

The Howling

Directed by Joe Dante, one of horror cinema's most underrated directors, The Howling features a stellar cast, including Dee Wallace, Dick Miller, John Carradine, and Kevin McCarthy. This is a good, solid werewolf film, which hits all the right notes as we slowly uncover the secrets of the Colony and its relation to primary antagonist, Eddie, a serial killer/rapist played by, of all people, Star Trek's Robert Picardo, in an atypically sinister performance.

An American Werewolf in London

Featuring what is probably the most famous werewolf transformation scene of all time, An American Werewolf in London is a mixture of intense horror sequences (particularly the early scene of a werewolf stalking our protagonists on the moors) and whimsical humor ("Mummy, a naked American man stole my balloons.") that work surprisingly well together, balancing each other out to create something quite special and spectacular.

Underworld series

I know this is a controversial pick. Horror fans tend to be divided on the super slick Underworld series, but personally, I love these movies. This series, which revolves around the ongoing war between vampires and werewolves, is horror candy. Not a lot of substance, but pretty to look at, filled with nonstop action, and just plain tons of fun.

Wolfen

I'll be honest; it's been a long time since I've seen this one, and I don't remember a lot about it, except that I liked it. Albert Finney investigates a series of murders committed by the titular Wolfen. I almost hesitate to include this, because it never seemed to me to be a werewolf film in the truest sense, but it's an excellent movie so I couldn't leave it off the list.

Company of Wolves

Neil Jordan's (Interview with the Vampire) fairy tale inspired werewolf film, based on the works of Angela Carter, is dreamy and magical. It explores a girl's coming of age with intertwined tales of monsters, both beast and man, inhabiting a lush but imposing forest. Jordan's films are always visually stunning and delicious treats, and Wolves is no different. Among the cast, Angela Lansbury in particular shines as the tale spinning grandmother.

Howl

Featuring some of the most intimidating werewolves (these guys are large and angry looking) in cinema history, this movie about stranded train passengers banding together to fight werewolves intent on having them for dinner is the most worthy successor to Dog Soldiers I've yet to see. In fact, it even features a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo from Soldiers' Sean Pertwee.

Ginger Snaps trilogy

Werewolves once again used as representative of the female coming of age. The film about teenage sisters, Ginger and Bridget (the excellent Katharine Isabelle and Emily Perkins), whose relationship is strained after Ginger is bitten by a werewolf is probably the best of the three, but my personal favorite is the semi-prequel period piece, Ginger Snaps Back. I've never been a big fan of the middle film, but all three are must-sees.