Worst Werewolf Designs

Best Werewolf Designs 

I tend to have strong opinions on werewolf design.  So I’ll break the various types down here:

The well the designs work depends on the context of what archetype you’re suing

                TYPE 1: Person involuntarily transforms during full moon

                TYPE 2: Person transforms permanently, although the full moon could be a trigger

                TYPE 3: Person transforms at will

                TYPE 4: Person transforms in response to trigger

                TYPE A: Person loses all control of actions during transformation. 

                TYPE B: Person retains humanity

Type 1A is generally the Classic.  Its appeal is that of a good person tormented by guilt with what he did during the full moon.  Twists on the trope can be good as well, though.The designs fall under:

TOO HUMAN: Werewolf looks too much like a human in “werewolf” form so what’s the point.  Might as well just be a vampire.

TOO LUPINE: “Werewolf” form looks too much like normal wolf.  Good werewolf designs are a mix of human and lupine traits.  Once could say that the bestial look is appropriate for type A’s but ideally those should be twisted monsters who target people, not normal animals.

WOLFMAN: I know it’s iconic and “classic,” but let’s be honest, it’s a lame design.  It’s usually a good idea for a werewolf to have a muzzle since biting is its primary mode of attack.  The wolfman design doesn’t look scary or grotesque enough for Type A or appealing enough for Type B.

THE IDEALIZED: Has a lupine head on a humanoid body.  Tails are optional, but it looks a bit creepier without it so better to avoid them.  A tail in generally the difference between a werewolf an a cartoon character.  While they look intimidating, the problem is that they look too appealing for Type A’s and (imo) should be generally reserved for Type B.  The ancient archetype of a monster’s form being inherently corrupt, reflecting either a true monster or a curse human who must free himself of the form, only works if the form is actually grotesque, which brings us to...

THE GROTESQUE: A genuinely hideous abomination that is generally ideal for Type A’s.  This is generally a tough thing to pull off because you still need to maintain a muzzle and a wolf/human hybrid appearance.

 7. IDEALIZED BUT WITHOUT THE MUZZLE

Cursed (2005)

Type 3B, Idealized/Grotesque

This design looks like an Idealized from the front view, but the stubby muzzle makes the design awkward and grotesque (too bad it’s a Type B) while robbing the werewolf of biting ability.

6. DAVID KESSLER

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Type 1A, Too Lupine/Grotesque (Unsuccessful)

While the face looks great from the front (you can see plenty of pictures of that online), the body is too awkward and fluffy to the point where it actually looks kinda…cute.  Rick Baker for reasons known only to himself, decided to base this design on his Keeshond.  As one could predict using a relatively lovable breed of dog as inspiration for monster design doesn’t work…

5. LAWRENCE TALBOT
Benicio del Toro, Wolfman (2010)
Type 1A, Wolfman
So basically just the original design with better makeup when we should have known better.

 4. LITERALLY BELGIAN TERVURENS

The Company of Wolves (1984)

Type 3B, Too Lupine

I’m guessing the just assumed that this breed was obscure enough to get away with.  Still would be dinged for Too Lupine.  Ironically, the movie has my favorite transformation scenes.

3. NOT-SO-SEXY WEREWOLF

The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)

Type 3A/B, Idealized

Couldn’t find an image.  Normally this would be a solid werewolf design, but the context is frustrating.  A sexy woman in a bikini transforms into a werewolf that’s not sexy.  This wouldn’t be a problem if not for how stylistically out-of-place this is.  The entire movie is ridiculous in its constant, never-ending NSFW nudity.   It’s the one instance where one can say that that “not enough furry cheesecake” is actually an objective criticism of something, and that’s impressive.

 2. LYCANS

Underworld (2003)

Type 3B, Grotesque

The sad thing is that this hideous design could have worked on Type A, but then again the bite is nerfed by short muzzle length and there’s not enough lupine appearance (they were meant to look feline for some stupid reason not quite as lovable as Rick Baker’s Keeshond).

 1. LITERALLY JUST A HUMAN WITH DIGITIGRADE LEGS

Chloë Moretz, Dark Shadows (2012)

Type 1B, Too Human

Congratulations, Underworld.  You no longer have the worst werewolf design in movie history. 

Best Werewolf Designs