Teen Wolf
Director – Rod Daniel (Beethoven’s 2nd, Newhart)
Starring – Michael J. Fox (Back to the Future, Mars Attacks!), James Hampton (Teen Wolf Too, The Greatest American Hero), Mark Holton (Leprechaun, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure)
Release Date – 1985
Rating – 4/5
Blu Release – 4/5
Tagline – “He always wanted to be special…but he never expected this!”
Most people know me as the horror and exploitation guy which sums me up pretty fucking well. I love horror and exploitation and spend most of my free time indulging in this love. However, one of my favorite films of all time, in fact, I could confidently say that this IS my favorite, is not horror. When I was a kid, talking 5 or so, I was obsessed with Back to the Future and the sequel. I could watch it all day and night. That is something I never grew out of. If I toss it BttF you can damn well bet I watch the first two films at least 5 times a piece before I finally give them a break.
A few years after this obsession I saw Teen Wolf on television. The second I recognized Michael J. Fox I had to stop what I was doing and watch it. When the film was finished I had to see it again. I begged my dad to take me to the local video store and I rented it. I fell in love with the film. Several years ago I bought the DVD and would toss it in after I went on a Back to the Future binge. It was a fun film that I thought paired very well with it. When Scream Factory announced the blu release I had to review it. I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way. Thanks guys!
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows Scott Howard (Fox) who is having a hard time fitting in. He’s on the basketball team but they can never win a game, his best friend the clichéd fat guy nicknamed Chubby (Holton), and his crush is dating the one guy in the whole school that wants to see him dead. To make matters even worse, he is having trouble controlling body hair. One night things change and he rushes home to discover that his is part of a line of werewolves. His dad fills him in on all the details and instructs him to keep it a secret. However, Scott decides to use his new found gifts to lead his team to victory and get the girl of his dreams but this all comes at a price.**Spoiler Alert**
Most of you may read my opening paragraph and think that I like Teen Wolf as much as I do Back to the Future. That is not the cast. No movie will be as good as the first two Back to the Future films. They are damn near perfect. I do like Teen Wolf and I think it has a similar atmosphere to BttF but it is not on the same level to me.
The acting in this one is fantastic. Once again Michael J. Fox delivers an unforgettable performance and creates a character that will stand the test of time. I really liked James Hampton as Scott’s father Harold. He was a strong father figure that added some reluctant humor to a few dry scenes. I also enjoyed Mark Holton’s performance. I have seen him in so many films where he was phenomenal. I was always surprised his name wasn’t well known. The rest of the cast is great but they didn’t really stand out like these three.
The story for this one is fun. I love 80s coming of age stories and I love 80s horror so having these two come together is a dream come true though this is not the first time an 80s coming of age comedy added a horror twist and it wouldn’t be the last. In 1985 saw the release of not only Teen Wolf but the Jim Carrey led Once Bitten which follows a similar story except the teenage male in this film is faced with a vampire problem.
A few years later in 1987 we would find the film My Best Friend is a Vampire which once again places teenage angst in the skin of a werewolf and My Boyfriend’s Back would be released in 1993 and placed the main character in the role of a zombie. This doesn’t count the numerous films from the 50s, 60s, and 70s that had teenagers take on a supernatural element like I Was a Teenage Werewolf. Turning a teenage into a creature was not something new but it did add some element of spice to the teenage sex comedies after the popularity of Porky’s, Revenge of the Nerds and so on. The film is very well written and has several memorable moments, one liners, and unforgettable characters.
Finally, the film is not your typical werewolf flick. The film uses some solid practical effects but there is no blood and gore. The film stays true to the comedy portion with the horror twist riding in the back seat. The werewolves look good but that is the extent of the effects. Overall, Teen Wolf is an iconic film. A fan of 80s movies, horror, or comedies need to own this. In fact, if you have not seen this film then you need to pick up Scream’s blu and do yourself a favor.
Special Features:
2K Scan
Never. Say. Die. – The Story of Teen Wolf
Making of and Legacy of the Film
Still Gallery
Theatrical Gallery
Teen Wolf Too
Director – Christopher Leitch (Nightmare Café, Satan’s School for Girls)
Starring – Jason Bateman (Tropic Thunder, The Fairly Odd Parents), Kim Darby (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark), and John Astin (The Addams Family, Return of the Killer Tomatoes)
Release Date – 1987
Rating – 3/4
Blu Release – 4/5
Tagline – “Freshmen have always had trouble adjusting to college life…but never like this!”
A lot of people bitch about sequels but I tend to enjoy them. As I stated in my Teen Wolf review, Back to the Future and Back to the Future Part IIare my favorite movies. I see them both as one film. Part II is easily the perfect sequel and I let my love for that film help me overcome any fears I have of other sequels sucking.
Sadly, some sequels suck and that’s the nature of the beast. Teen Wolf is a film I enjoyed watching when I was growing up but I had no idea there was a sequel until a few years ago when I bought the Teen Wolf DVD. When I saw it was a double feature with Teen Wolf Too I had to watch it. I went home and tossed it in. The film is not winning any top lists from me but was decent. When Scream Factory announced the blu release of the film I decided it was time to revisit it. I reached out to Scream Factory and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way. Thanks guys.
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows Todd Howard (Bateman) who is the cousin to Scott Howard (Fox) from the first film. He is leaving for college with some help from his uncle Harold (James Hampton). He is going in hopes of being a vet but is on a boxing scholarship which he is not doing the best at. That is when he starts to notice changes just like his cousin Scott. He lets the wolf help him out with his boxing and when he starts to gain popularity he forgets why he was going to college in the first place and turns his back on those that helped him before he was Teen Wolf.**Spoiler Alert**
Sequels can be fun. Evil Dead II, Back to the Future Part II, Dawn of the Dead, and Friday the 13th Part II, and Bride of Re-Animator are all examples of great sequels. In most cases they just expanded on the stories that was already present in the first film. Sadly, Teen Wolf Too didn’t expand on the story we got in the first film. Instead, it just repacked the story of the original film and replaced some of the cast. The film isn’t bad but it’s nowhere near as fun as the first film.
The acting in this one is good. Jason Bateman is a solid actor and this was a great performance. It’s also great seeing John Astin. I’ve never seen a film where he failed to disappoint. I wish his character would have had a bigger role in the overall film but he delivered a great performance. The supporting cast is great but no one really stands out.
The story for this one is way too close to the first film. The first film followed a high school student who couldn’t get the girl, played on a horrible sports team, and turned into a wolf who used the power to better himself. This film follows his cousin who is horrible at a sport, can’t get the girl, and turns into a wolf and uses the power to better his situation. Instead of a continuation, we get a repurposing of the same story. The film doesn’t hit as hard as the first film and some of the humor is missed because it was already done before.
Finally, the film is once again about the comedy aspect. No blood or gore but the wolf looks good. Similar style and effects were used to at least make that portion of the film consistent. Overall, Teen Wolf Too is a solid film but is way too close to the first film to stand out. A expansion of the first film would have been so much better. I still recommend this one but be sure to include the fist film in your viewing.
Special Features:
Working with the Wolf – Interview
Otherworldly – Interview
A Man of Great Stiles – Interview
Nerdy Girl Saves the Day – Interview
A Wolf in 80s Clothing – Interview
Still Gallery
