Chad

Spiderbite

I haven't seen this movie in many years and didn't remember much about it. I actually went into this with a blah attitude since I figured not remembering anything about it meant I didn't like it before.

Man, was I wrong. This movie is a hidden gem that needs to be mentioned more often in the pantheon of werewolf movies. I was utterly impressed with everything about it.

Yet another movie that if made today would be ruined by CG regarding the real-life animal work as well as the special effects. Sure, the effects are not perfect, but they look far better than anything CGI could do currently.

I loved the setting of the anthology of stories coming from a story set within a dream world, so anything can happen. And guess what, one of the stories is one you have heard a million times since you were a child. But so much more frightening. Really, really enjoyed this film!

My rating: ****1/2 out of *****

ps. Is there anything creepier than that fucking sailor doll? They could make an entire horror movie with that damn thing.

Crocker Jarmen

I'm much less enthusiastic about Company of Wolves than you are. As much as I love the unique narrative structure and bizarre visuals (yes, the living sailor doll at the beginning is something I'll never forget), I don't think any of the stories are very good. I'm guessing there's some Freudian or feminist interpretation of them (the movie is based on the work of Angela Carter, who's famous quote is "My work cuts like a steel blade at the base of a man's penis"), but I'm not an academic, so that stuff goes over my head.

My favorite part of the movie is Angela Lansbury, who I never would have expected to see

On the technical side, I also get a good natured laugh out the wedding sequence, where you can see crewmembers hiding under black blankets, prodding the uncooperative dogs who aren't moving on cue. They practically throw them into the wedding cake. And I feel bad for the peacock that gets trampled by the heard of dogs. You can tell they totally set that bird up to get steamrolled. This was probably a difficult movie to shoot.

Undeadcow

The fairy tale vibe of The Company of Wolves was wonderful. Angela Lansbury elevates nearly everything she was in. At times the gender politics stuff felt a tad heavy handed as if the whole film was a metaphor for the dirt and hurt of romance; a cynicism which somewhat belittles much potential for relatability even if at times clever, “if there is a wolf in man it has it’s match in women.” The effects were brilliant like the great gorey startling werewolf transformation that penetrates the film with darkness. I liked a lot of the subtext and while some of it felt too pessimistic I think it sticks with me more than just werewolf fluff.

numbercrunch

A period werewolf film told in a series of vignettes that I could have sworn Ive seen before, but can't remember. The film was made in 1984, but you could never tell it. Its an okay film, but the main werewolf transformation looked goofy as hell and the film is devoid of any real tension.
6/10

Obi-Wanma

Watched this last night on kanopy after Dementia. Started it at about 10:30 and I kind of expected to get too tired to finish it (like several other movies I have started late in this challenge), but it kept my attention and I finished it in one go. I actually liked it quite a bit. I was surprised at how gory and frighting the first werewolf transformation was, as the film appeared very kiddy friendly up to that point. The practical effects were actually pretty great, and I shared the same thought Spiderbite had that if this were made in modern times, it would have been ruined by sketchy CGI. I'm not really sure what the nothing modern times dream sequence really adds to the story though, apart from padding the runtime. Was disappointed that the sister character was killed off so early and never seen again though. Did not expect to see Angela Lansbury in this, but she was good, as usual.