12 Underrated Werewolf Movies That Horror Fans Can’t Stop Talking About

12 Underrated Werewolf Movies That Horror Fans Can’t Stop Talking About

Werewolf movies have been howling for our attention since the early days of cinema, but many fantastic lycanthropic tales remain hidden in the shadows. Beyond mainstream hits like ‘An American Werewolf in London’ and ‘The Howling,’ a treasure trove of underappreciated werewolf films awaits discovery. From psychological thrillers to gory action flicks, these 12 underrated werewolf movies deserve their moment in the moonlight.

1. The Beast Must Die (1974)

Part monster movie, part murder mystery, The Beast Must Die (1974) is often described as “Clue with claws.” Wealthy hunter Tom Newcliffe (Calvin Lockhart) invites guests to his estate, convinced one is secretly a werewolf—and vows to expose them.

The film’s most memorable gimmick is its “Werewolf Break,” a 30-second pause before the climax where viewers are invited to guess the culprit’s identity.

With its funky soundtrack and campy yet suspenseful atmosphere, the film stands out as a cult classic. Lockhart’s commanding performance grounds a playful mash-up that blends whodunit intrigue with supernatural menace.

2. Blackout (2023)

In Blackout (2023), lycanthropy becomes a metaphor for memory loss and addiction in a tense indie spin on werewolf mythology. The story follows Charley, a man who awakens after each full moon with no recollection of his violent actions, forced to piece together the bloody aftermath of his transformations.

Director Larry Fessenden focuses less on spectacle and more on the psychological toll, crafting a character study of guilt, denial, and self-destruction.

Shot in claustrophobic interiors with a muted palette, the film builds dread through restraint, exploring the devastating human cost of living with a beast inside.

3. The Company of Wolves (1984)

Fairy tales take a sinister turn in Neil Jordan’s The Company of Wolves (1984), a surreal adaptation of Angela Carter’s werewolf stories. The film weaves a series of nested tales, all centered on wolves as symbols of predatory masculinity and forbidden desire.

Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson) journeys from innocence to awakening in a dreamlike forest, guided by her grandmother (Angela Lansbury), who warns her of “men whose eyebrows meet.”

Jordan favors allegory and unsettling imagery over cheap scares, crafting transformation sequences that are still among the genre’s most disturbing. Gothic atmosphere and feminist undertones make this a singularly artistic werewolf film.

4. Dog Soldiers (2002)

Six British soldiers on a routine training exercise in the Scottish Highlands find themselves under siege by a pack of werewolves in Neil Marshall’s Dog Soldiers (2002).

Made on a modest budget, the film stands out for its sharp writing, authentic camaraderie, and richly drawn characters who feel like more than expendable victims.

The action escalates when the squad takes refuge in a remote farmhouse, fighting for survival against towering, seven-foot beasts brought to life with impressive practical effects and animatronic heads. Kevin McKidd and Sean Pertwee anchor the cast in this gripping, blood-soaked mix of military grit and monster horror.

5. Full Moon High (1981)

Before Teen Wolf turned lycanthropy into a pop-culture comedy, Larry Cohen’s Full Moon High (1981) was already mixing adolescent angst with supernatural absurdity.

The story follows Tony (Adam Arkin), a football star bitten in Romania who returns to high school decades later—still a teenager—while wrestling with his hairy secret. Arkin’s dry delivery grounds Cohen’s anything-goes script, which favors slapstick and surreal tangents over genuine scares.

The intentionally goofy makeup underscores the film’s satirical tone, poking fun at American values, conformity, and Cold War paranoia. While uneven, its willingness to embrace wild ideas gives it lasting cult appeal.

6. Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004)

Set in 1815, Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004) takes the Fitzgerald sisters to a snowbound Canadian trading fort besieged by werewolves.

After becoming stranded in the wilderness, Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins) seek shelter among suspicious soldiers and traders who are losing ground against the encroaching beasts. The film works as both prequel and standalone, retaining the original’s feminist undertones while adding historical context.

The bleak colonial backdrop amplifies its themes of superstition, isolation, and survival. With gothic imagery and wintry dread, this installment favors atmosphere and slow-building tension over traditional jump scares.

7. Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf (1985)

Christopher Lee faces an immortal werewolf queen in this over-the-top 1985 sequel set in Transylvania. The story follows Ben, mourning his sister’s death from the first film, as he teams up with Lee’s occult expert to confront Stirba, ruler of the werewolves.

Director Philippe Mora embraces outrageous style—New Wave music, punk energy, ritual spectacle, and transformation effects replayed to surreal extremes.

Famously, one dramatic reveal of Stirba is repeated again and again during the end credits. Through it all, Lee delivers his lines with unwavering dignity, anchoring a movie that’s so miscalculated it loops back to midnight-movie fun.

8. Silver Bullet (1985)

Stephen King’s talent for small-town horror is on full display in this 1985 adaptation of his novella Cycle of the Werewolf. Set in 1976 in Tarker’s Mills, young Marty Coslaw (Corey Haim), who uses a motorized wheelchair nicknamed the “Silver Bullet,” discovers a werewolf behind a string of brutal murders.

His eccentric, hard-drinking Uncle Red (Gary Busey) provides both comic relief and heartfelt support, grounding the supernatural tale.

The creature, designed by Carlo Rambaldi (E.T., Alien), is revealed sparingly, letting suspense and atmosphere build. The film’s everyday Americana setting makes the intrusion of a monster all the more chilling.

9. Wer (2013)

Found footage meets werewolf folklore in Wer (2013), a smartly underseen horror-thriller. When an American family is killed in the French countryside, suspicion falls on Talan Gwynek, a reclusive, imposing man whose trial sparks both legal intrigue and supernatural dread.

At first, the film plays like a courtroom procedural as defense attorney Kate Moore (A.J. Cook) questions his guilt. But once Talan’s true nature emerges, director William Brent Bell unleashes chaotic, handheld-camera action that feels raw and immediate.

Brian Scott O’Connor’s physicality makes Talan unforgettable, while the forensic spin on lycanthropy gives this creature feature a fresh, terrifying edge.

10. The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)

In The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020), small-town officer John Marshall (Jim Cummings) struggles with alcoholism, divorce, and his fraught relationship with his sheriff father while investigating a string of grisly murders tied to the full moon.

Cummings also writes and directs this inventive blend of horror, comedy, and drama. The tonal shifts are remarkable, swinging from sharp dark humor to unsettling crime scenes and raw emotional beats.

Werewolf attacks unfold with striking artistry against snowy mountain backdrops. The late Robert Forster delivers a poignant final performance, grounding a story about monsters both supernatural and deeply human.

11. When Animals Dream (2014)

This Danish coming-of-age horror film (Når dyrene drømmer, 2014) follows Marie (Sonia Suhl), a withdrawn teenager in a remote fishing village who discovers her strange skin condition signals a terrifying transformation.

Her medicated mother and secretive father appear to know more than they admit, deepening the mystery. Director Jonas Alexander Arnby uses lycanthropy as a haunting metaphor for female awakening and resistance against patriarchal control.

The stark Nordic landscapes heighten the film’s sense of isolation, while Suhl’s layered performance balances fragility with emerging strength. Eschewing flashy effects, the film instead emphasizes atmosphere, repression, and the community’s fearful response.

12. Late Phases (2014)

In Late Phases (2014), blind Vietnam veteran Ambrose (Nick Damici) relocates to a quiet retirement community, only to discover that the recent “animal attacks” are the work of a werewolf stalking its elderly residents.

Damici’s portrayal of Ambrose—gruff, sharp, and resourceful—creates one of horror’s most unconventional heroes. His blindness becomes a strength, shaping his perception and strategy.

The film breaks genre norms by centering on senior citizens, blending monster-movie thrills with poignant reflections on aging, loss, and resilience. Practical effects nod to classic horror, while Ambrose’s final, trap-laden showdown delivers both gripping tension and unexpected emotional weight.