Horror 2023 Countdown: I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)

I was a Teenage Werewolf (1957), dir. Gene Fowler, Jr. Sunset Productions 

Ending our lookback at werewolves so why not end it on a good one? This was the film that convinced American International Pictures that teens were a viable market for horror flicks, so you lay both the good and bad on this one's feet. 

Tony Rivers (Michael Landon) is a troubled teen. It might be more accurate to say he's on the express train to juvie or even prison as the lad seems incapable keeping his cool. Seriously, during one schoolyard dustup he tries to go after another student with a shovel. The police strongly suggest Tony seek some professional help, namely Dr. Brandon (Whit Bissell).

Pity that the doc is more in line with Frankenstein than Freud. Yeah, the doc sees in Tony the perfect guinea pig for his work, namely channeling into Tony's inner rage with a drug/hypnosis combo that serves to turn him into the titular werewolf. 

After that, yeah, straight by the numbers monster flick. Tony changes, kills a few folks, a janitor remembers how to kill such a creature from the old country. 

Not an awful film, and from a historical perspective this is one that has lasted better than others, but the film does drag a bit. This does continue the bit of the monster being a result of science rather than magic, so there's that.