Best and Worst Werewolf Transformations

[Zombie_61]

...and american werewolf in london for the best , what rick baker did in that movie was amazing , and i still dont see why they went with cgi on the new wolfman , when they had the master working for them

I read one interview with Joe Johnston (who directed The Wolfman, for anyone who doesn't already know) in which he addressed the reasons they decided on CGI for the transformation scenes. First, the shooting schedule didn't allow enough time for Baker and his crew to adequately create practical makeups for the transformation scenes (in addition to the "fully transformed" makeup seen in the film). Second, Johnston wanted the flexibility of CGI so that he could "tweak" the transformations if he needed to, something that wouldn't have been possible with practical makeups without extensive reshoots, added expense, and more time. I thought the CGI transformations were done fairly well, but they were still a little too "over the top" for my tastes; I would like to have seen what Baker and his crew would have done.

Back to the topic, IMO the best transformations were (in chronological order) Werewolf of London (1935), all of the films with Lon Chaney Jr. as Lawrence Talbot (The Wolf Man in 1941, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man in 1943, House of Frankenstein in 1944, House of Dracula in 1945, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein in 1948), The Curse of the Werewolf (1961) and An American Werewolf in London (1981). Among the worst...most of the rest of the wolfman/werewolf films I've seen.

 

[Paul Andrew]

Monster Squad needs a mention for best... what a great kid movie.

 

[0neiros]

Heheheh Ewok indeed, when Dee Wallace Transformed, I remember this one teenybopper in the front row loudly said "She's so Fluffy". The entire theater just lost it at that point. I'll second Thriller, and The Vampire to Wolf Transformation in Fright Night was pretty decent.

 

[piehead]

the pilot of the first series of being human had a great transformation sequence. no c.g. just good ole puppets and prosthetics and very much a nod in the direction of american werewolf.

 

[Gryffindor1991]

Lupin's transformation in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was really good.
Now the one from Twilight, I saw that in the commercials for one of the movies, and that guy is easily an Animagus that transforms into a wolf and not infected with Lycanthropy.

 

[Supa troop]

i thought id add these pics for you all

check out Rick Bakers T-shirt

 

[Bmaga123]

Best
1. American Werewolf in London
2. Howling
3. Silver Bullet

Worst
1. American Werewolf in Paris
2. Bad Moon
3. Howling part 2,3, and 4

Honorable mensions
1. Underworld
2. Ginger Snaps
3. Monster Squad

 

[Apollo]

American Werewolf in London

Howling

I'm surprised only one other remembered Silver Bullet

 

[swede]

not so much transformation but silverbullet for me will always be number 1
thats how i like my werewolf (standing up,more like a bear) todays its all wolf/dog and its boring...but i have to say that the underworld crew did a great job with a mix of everything

 

[Shadow345]

Best -
An American Werewolf In London
The Howling
The Wolf Man (1941)

Goriest -
Howling IV - The Original Nightmare
The Company of Wolves

Best werewolf costumes excluding the transformation scene-
Dog Soldiers
Bad Moon

Worst -
An American Werewolf in Paris
Strippers Vs Werewolves

 

[Rusty85]

The most memorable and my favorite was always Monster Squad, I just loved the Wolfman's design in that and the phone booth transformation was the S***!