Rankin' Dogs
I'm ashamed to admit that, despite considering myself a horror hound, I've never been a big fan of werewolf movies. I don't really know why, other than maybe the fact that I used to be very squeamish about practical effects, and werewolf movies have always (blessedly) leaned on them. Well, I'm better now, and thought I'd use my forray into the subgenre wisely by taking a minute to rank my favorite transformations. To be clear, these rankings in no way reflect my opinions on the movies as a whole. I just want to talk about that sick money shot.
Most of these are current watches, the only exceptions being the two polar ends of the spectrum, The Company of Wolves, and New Moon. Now, I admit that putting the Twilight movies on here is a cheat, but I wanted a good floor piece to frame my judgements around. Also at the time of begining this list, I haven't really seen a poor werewolf transformation that didn't include jorts. So.
- The Company of Wolves (1984)
- I haven't actually watched this movie in a couple years, but it only speaks to the quality of the transformation sequence that I still remember it so vivdly. I'm not sure I can describe how thoroughly I jumped out of my own skin seeing Hellraiser quality effects in the middle of this fever dream sequence of a movie. It has everything: wet puppets, visual growth, raw animal sex appeal. Milk. It's a bold call to make so early, but I'm putting this entry at the top with the energy of Barry Bonds calling the shot. It's just not gonna get better than this.
- Wolf Man (2025)
- Okay this probably doesn't deserve to edge out movies with better practical effects, but I did really like the extended nature of the transformation. The slow shift fit the theme of the movie and allowed them to do some pretty cool things I haven't seen played with before. I especially liked how the character's ability to communicate was one of the first things to deteriorate. Absolutely heartbreaking to watch.
- Also, let us not overlook him chewing through his own arm like a dog with a hotspot. Truly incredible stuff.
- The Howling (1981)
- Very fun transformation sequence with a fun final stage design. The bubbling flesh was fun, and I liked how our first intro to the change was introduced by watching the severed wolf-form hand boil down to its human form after being severed. Points off because it really took me out of the scene to have Dee Wallace standing there doing nothing for the full five minutes, though I'm glad the film itself took the time to show it all in such detail. Further point of for making me look at honest to god cartoons instead of letting me see those two half-wolves fuck. Excellent use of sock puppets, though. Thought I was about to see a muppet immolated.
- The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
- I've been bamboozled! There is no transformation here at all! Still, the killer standing to his full height - and the way he just... keeps standing, taller and taller, and the skeevy, matted fursuit actually added an element of horror so it technically has an edge over moon moon
- New Moon (2009)
- Yeah, it sucks.