These animals prowl under the full moon, hunt the innocent, dodge silver bullets, and according to every piece of fiction published/produced in the last decade, apparently fight/bang vampires. Regardless of their latter-day sins, This Guy has a soft spot for the original furries. So, join him and take a look at this countdown of man’s other, less cuddly best friend: Lycanthropes. . . That’s werewolves to you and me.

 

Honourable Mention: Lucian (Michael Sheen, Underworld)

Underworld was actually a pretty badass franchise before it became Resident Evil with more leather. In the first and third installments, Michael Sheen brings life, empathy, and class to Lucian, the father of all modern werewolves (the first of his kind to maintain human form). He’s fast, strong, highly intelligent, kicking off a plan for domination centuries in the making. He even throws a little Spartacus styled revolution at one point. Lucian almost made the cut, but for This Guy, nostalgia won out.

 

5. Wolfman (Jon Gries, The Monster Squad)

While Lon Chaney has a special place in This Guy’s heart, the Wolfman character has evolved over the years. The werewolf in The Monster Squad is an unwilling participant in Dracula’s dastardly plan to rule the world (when he’s a man). Once the sun goes down the poor soul, desperate for salvation (actually credited as The Desperate Man) has a change of heart and runs with the pack. This wolf is strong, vicious and friggin’ scary to look at. He also happens to be one of only two werewolves on this list that actually adhere to a strict no-silver policy. He is also the only one confirmed to have nards.

 

4. Will Randall (Jack Nicholson, Wolf)

This Guy loves this movie. Nicholson was born to play an aging werewolf. A man on his way down, Will Randall finds himself bitten by a wolf on the road, and slowly begins to change into the beast. Throughout the film we see his abilities develop, from enhanced hearing and smell, youthful vigor, even new hair! But as he loses control of his nightly activities, we’re reminded that the spirit of the wolf is a powerful force, running free and killing at will. Though the hero of the story, Will’s werewolf would certainly be a scary encounter in Central Park past midnight… even if he wasn’t a werewolf actually.

 

3. Ginger (Katharine Isabelle, Ginger Snaps)

Ginger Snaps is great Canadian cinema, but on top of that it’s one of the great werewolf flicks. Ginger is your average outcast teen; she’s spiteful, angry, artsy, and lonely. Fortunately, she and her sister have each other. Once Ginger gets bit by ‘the Beast of Bailey Downs’ chaos ensues. It’s actually hilarious watching the sisters scramble to try and halt the transformation, but once Ginger accepts her fate, it’s terrifying to see how quickly your average girl can become a sadistic killing machine. The wolf here is arrogant, lustful, and full of rage, but she still loves her sister. It’s touching really, right through to the final bloody climax.

 

2. David Kessler (David Naughton, An American Werewolf in London)

We can’t talk werewolves and forget David, the unfortunate tourist who ended up marked by the beast. Unlike his friend Jack, who goes all ghoulified, David survives his wolf encounter and begins to change. In probably the most intense and impressively visualized transformation scene in film history, we see just how painful the transition is, and David wastes no time causing panic on the streets of London. His wolf is more of a straight up animal– four legs, seemingly mindless, but deadly and terrifying.

 

1. The Uath family (Dog Soldiers)

In the Scottish Highlands dwell the Uaths, a family that has lived in the area for centuries, and we can see why. No cities, no police, just miles of wilderness, occupied by various tasty campers and hikers… and a crack team of British Army soldiers on a war games exercise. The werewolves here are the most dangerous kind. They’re smart, powerful, sadistic, and they hunt in packs. Their high intelligence is contrasted by the fact that we never see their human form (but we’re assured they’re fine people), which makes them all the more frightening; they’re just pure monsters. These animals give the soldier boys a run for their money, and blow all their houses down. This is what werewolves are supposed to be!