Horror 2022 Countdown: She-Wolf of London (1946)

She-Wolf of London (1946), dir. Jean Yarbrough, Universal Pictures, Inc. 

Back into the Universal swing of things, and at this point times were a changing. The war was over and the monsters and ghouls were no longer in favor. 

Phyllis Allenby (June Lockhart) is a pretty lucky gal. She's got a great beau, Barry (Don Porter), who's career as a lawyer is really taking off. She's also lucky that her best friend Carol (Jan Wiley) is also her cousin and lives with her at her sprawling estate. Even Carol's mother, Aunt Martha (Sara Haden) dotes on her. 

Pity she's a werewolf. 

Well, she's convinced she is at least. Seems the Curse of the Allenbys is a thing, or at least that's all Phyllis is willing to talk about; plus, there is also the mounting body count around the estate, and Phyllis's muddy feet and lack of memory. 

The police don't believe in such malarky though. Can they figure out the curse of the Allenbys?

Woof. It's a poor mystery when the killer reveals themselves in the first five minutes and explains the plot. Seriously, first five minutes Aunt Martha sits Carol down and explains, no, she isn't Phyllis' aunt and she and Carol aren't related. It seems that Martha was actually the Allenby maid, entrusted to care for Phyllis. What with Phyllis marrying, she's convinced she and Carol will be tossed out into the street, although it's a bit vague as to why. They seem to have a loving relationship, why would Phyllis eject a woman who raised her and her best friend?

Plus, instead of being honest or at least fostering a kind environment, your go-to plan is to frame your adapted daughter not only for murder, but to make her think she's a werewolf? I get making her think she's crazy, but they lock up regular murders just as well you know.