Bad Moon (1996)

 While working on this bit of blog blather, I previously dropped a 13 year old review from my IMDb, part of my gradual removal from that site to this Blog From the Darkside Archive.

***/***** (solid werewolf flick that doesn't overstay its welcome)

I think what Eric Red (writer and director of the film) does right with this 70+ minute werewolf film is present a trimmed-of-fat plot that doesn't pile on any convoluted machinations and goes with a more simple approach. This is a tragedy regarding an adventurer and scientist (Michael Pare; "Streets of Fire") on an expedition in the jungle with his lady, accompanied by natives of the region when they are attacked by a bloodthirsty werewolf. Pare's lover is pulled from their tent in the middle of passionate sex and savaged before it slams her down. Pare, slashed viciously across the shoulder, is unable to get to his shotgun before it struck her down, blowing its head off. That attack was epic as was the head explosion off the torso. So already in the first six or so minutes, Red gets some skin and savagery in our introduction to the film. The remainder is very much Pare traveling to the mountains to visit his sister, played by Muriel Hemingway, and her son (Mason Gamble of the film version of "Dennis the Menace"), his inability to control the beast within and the werewolf that takes over, and the inevitable danger that threatens them because of his lycanthropy.

I love one scene where Pare notices that Gamble is watching "Werewolf of London" (the underrated *other* Universal werewolf film before Chaney's "Wolf Man") and the two discuss werewolves. Gamble has no idea that his uncle is a werewolf. Full moons and silver bullets, Pare tells Gamble a shotgun does just fine. It's a nice body to werewolf entertainment and what is ailing Pare. Before that the pet German Shepherd, Thor, marks the tire of Pare's Gulfstream with urine with Pare giving him a good eye to eye contact.