1941’s The Wolf Man is a shining example of modernizing folklore, creating a mythos in the collective pop conscious so well that it has resonated through 75 years of storytelling. Taking loose inspiration from classic folk stories, Universal Pictures concocted their own vision of the werewolf, played fantastically here by Lon Chaney, Jr. Chaney conjures up a tragic and sympathetic man who, after becoming a werewolf, works desperately to save from himself those he loves as he comes to understand what he is. In terms of execution, it’s perfectly enjoyable, but very much a movie of its era. The pace is just a touch slow, the acting a bit stiff, and the effects dated (excepting Chaney’s makeup). Yet for all this, The Wolf Man is as timeless as the visage of its monster, and still worth watching.
