First photo of the eponymous werewolf from “Big Bad”

1313FX’s Tom Devlin recently had a brief chat with Dread Central (you guys! always getting the exclusives!) about his creature work on the upcoming upcoming horror/dark comedy film “Big Bad”. There’s also a longer, rather interesting discussion with producer Rick Moore about the film’s story (three kids locked in an abandoned prison overnight are stalked by something sinister), its production ethos (Monster Squad, The Goonies and Gremlins are mentioned) and the production’s approach to the creature effects:

“You read a lot about some filmmakers who don’t like CGI and want to do everything old school and also those who swear by the freedom that computer-assisted effects give you. We are actually firmly in the middle. We knew from the beginning we wanted a detailed, scary monster on set – one that could emote and perform everything written in the script. 1313FX and Brad Bishop completely delivered on this front. For some more complex scenes we may duplicate parts of the monster or enhance a set in order to achieve a certain shot that would have been too difficult or expensive under our time and budget restraints.”

The Dread Central article is accompanied by a number of in-progress makeup photos and an image of the film’s poster, but the one photo I think you’ll be most interested in doesn’t seem to be there anymore, despite Horror-Movies.ca posting it and crediting Dread Central as the source. Weird. Anyway, the photo I’m referring to is of the werewolf creature effects. Check it out below.

I’m not going to lie to you, Marge. I like it. There are definitely some things I would do differently with the creature design (somebody get this werewolf some Dream Cream), but damn if he isn’t rather scary. And check those abs!

Read the Dread Central article or visit the official “Big Bad” Facebook page for more info.

Hat tip: ArcLight

Jan. 20th 2011

“Feeding Ground” #3 Preview & Werewolf Pinups

If you’ve been reading Archaia Comics’ Feeding Ground series, stop what you’re doing and go pick up issue #3 from your local comics store, because it went on sale today. If you’re chained to a desk and you can’t leap into your car or a bus right this instant, soothe your urges with this eight-page preview (in English or Spanish!) which includes a healthy dose of werewolf transformation and bloody mayhem.

Feeding Ground artist and co-creator Michael Lapinski emailed me with some additional info. He describes the latest issue as one in which

…our myth kicks into gear and we learn much more about this particular interpretation of the werewolf.  You’ll notice that their physiology ranges from more canine to more primate with new candidates retaining their individual characteristics.

I’m really happy with how Michael designed these werewolves- the aesthetic is right up my alley. It’ll be interesting to see the range of physiologies through the next three issues. Michael was also kind enough to send some (exclusive!?) artwork: a page from issue #4, and two images that represent “the first of many werewolf pin-ups we’ll be including in the back of each issue.” The pin-ups are by artists Tom Forget and Juan Doe, respectively.




If you haven’t been reading Feeding Ground, what is wrong with you? Hie thee to one of these online comic stores and pick up issues 1 and 2.

Jan. 19th 2011

Submit your female werewolf short fiction to “Wolf-Girls: Dark Tales of Teeth, Claws and Lycogyny”

Publisher Hic Dragones (whose publishing policy is “intelligent, but a bit weird”) and editor Hannah Kate (who ran last year’s “She-Wolf” conference in the UK) want your 3,000 – 5,000-word female werewolf short fiction for an upcoming anthology called Wolf-Girls: Dark Tales of Teeth, Claws and Lycogyny. Here are the specifics:

What we want: Edgy dark fiction short stories about female werewolves. Male characters are, of course, allowed, but the central character(s) should be female. We have no preconceptions about what ‘female’ or ‘werewolf’ might mean – so all interpretations welcome. Any genre considered: dark fantasy, urban fantasy, horror, sci fi, steampunk, cyberpunk, biopunk, dystopian, crossover. Queer, trans, cis, straight are all welcome. High fantasy, revenge fantasy and anything about ‘lunar cycles’ and ‘Mother Nature’ will be considered, but are discouraged. Rather, we’re looking for new takes on an old legend, stories that challenge and unsettle. (And it should go without saying that we won’t be including any misogyny, misandry, homophobia, transphobia or racism!)

The submission deadline is Monday April 4th, 2011. Writers whose work is selected will receive a contributer’s copy as payment, which is more than enough for me! For more details, including submission guidelines, visit the Hic Dragones web site.

Jan. 18th 2011

Nine Excellent Gifts for the Discerning Werewolf Fan In Your Life

Shopping for one of those impossible “werewolf people”? Want to get them something that won’t just end up in the back of the closet next to that signed “An American Werewolf in Paris” poster? Relax– I’m here to help. Any one of these items will delight the werewolf-crazed lunatic (no pun intended) in your life, and the recipient will know you care enough about them to not just grab them a Blu-ray of “The Wolfman” and call it quits. I’ve linked to Amazon.com product pages wherever possible, since at this point in the month, most other online retailers have cut off their “will arrive before Christmas” ground shipping. These are in no particular order.

Zagone Studios Super Action Wolf Gloves – $24.99

The best werewolf gloves you’ll find anywhere for less than $100 are an absolute steal at $25. Light, comfortable, durable, dextrous and they look great. I own two pairs of these and will probably buy another pair next year. Available from Zagone Studios.

 

“The Wolf Age” by James Enge – $11.56

I have a half-finished review for this in the hopper, but I can’t leave it off the list simply because I’m bad at managing my time. This is a 500-page brick of solid gold– the best fantasy novel I’ve ever read, period. Enge takes the werewolves of horror lore and builds a unique and utterly convincing society for them to inhabit. A must-read. Available from Amazon.

 

“Werewolves: An Illustrated Journal of Transformation” by Paul Jessup and Allyson Haller – $7.79

One word: gorgeous. This book is an illustrated journal that documents the lycanthropic infection and transformation of a teenage girl. Another amazing book which needs reviewing on this site, and which deserves a place on the most prestigious level of your bookshelf. Contains a clever and believable story, with none of the cringe-worthy teenage drama of “Ginger Snaps”, and some of the best werewolf drawings & sketches I’ve ever seen. Highly recommended! Available from Amazon.

 

“Werewolves on the Moon: Versus Vampires” by David Land, Matt Fillbach and Shawn Fillbach – $10.78

Every page of this graphic novel is brimming with the ludicrous energy promised by the title and cover art (three werewolves staking a vampire to the Lunar surface with an American flag). Action, wry humour and clever dialog make this a gem. Great werewolf character design, too. Available from Amazon. By the way, I’m totally Stan.

 

“The Wrong Night in Texas” by Josh Boulet – $10.00

Allow me to quote from my own review of this excellent graphic novel: “Joshua Boulet has captured and unapologetically celebrated everything that makes the werewolf wild, dangerous and fun.” It “genuinely horrified me. It also thrilled me with its energy, charmed me with its lovingly-crafted aesthetic and, above all, satisfied that primal part of my brain that just wants to see a vicious, monstrous werewolf tearing shit up.” If you’re mature enough to enjoy R-rated films, you’re mature enough to have your stomach punched by Josh’s savage little book. Available from Josh’s web site.

 

Mezco “Wolfman” Stylized Roto Figure – $25.47

What can  I say about this guy? Of all the werewolf stuff on my various home and office desks, he’s my favourite. It captures the Rick Baker wolfman design but the exaggerated proportions add a sense of playfulness that was sadly lacking from the film. Available from Amazon.

 

“The Werewolf’s Guide to Life: A Manual for the Newly Bitten” by Ritch Duncan and Bob Powers – $11.19

Once again, lifted from my review: “The Werewolf’s Guide to Life belongs right next to the Bible in every werewolf’s (or werewolf’s spouse’s) nightstand. Its subtitle ‘A Manual for the Newly Bitten’ accurately represents what lies between its covers: not a tepid modernization of werewolf myths peppered with pseudo-scientific explanations, but rather a no-nonsense (yet oddly humorous) instructional guide for newly-initiated werewolves.” Available from Amazon.

 

“It’s On Now” Werewolf vs. Unicorn T-Shirt – $18.50

Forget vampires. The real enemy? Unicorns. This shirt lets everyone know that you know the truth. It’s also designed and sold by one of the awesomest dudes around. This shirt. Available from TopatoCo.

 

Werewolf High Heels, Platform Heels, Flats and Clutch Wallet by Iron Fist – $24.99 to $49.99

Perfect for the fashion-conscious werewolf-lovin’ lady (or open-minded fellow) in your life. Get a bloody-fanged werewolf design on open-toed pumps, platforms, flats or a clutch wallet. All available from Amazon.

Dec. 12th 2010

I am similarly afflicted

Today’s Penny Arcade is about a problem that Tycho and I share. I haven’t succumbed to Cataclysm (yet) but I have long been a fan of refined werewolves. Sometimes my usernames reflect this predilection.

Dec. 10th 2010

Lucía, Luis & The Wolf – Nightmarish stop-motion shorts from Chile’s Diluvio

Viergacht sent me links to these videos earlier in the month, and I only got around to watching them this morning. They’ve been with me all day. I can’t explain them, other than to say they freak out the part of my brain that makes it so I can’t play Silent Hill games.

Lucía (2007) by Cristóbal León, Joaquin Cociña, Niles Atallah
Lucía is the 1st short video of the series “Lucía, Luis y el lobo” (“Lucía, Luis and the Wolf”). The video was shot frame by frame with a digital photo camera. Materials: charcoal, dirt, flowers, found objects and cardboard.

Luis (2008) by Cristóbal León, Joaquin Cociña, Niles Atallah
Luis is the 2nd short video of the series “Lucía, Luis y el lobo” (”Lucía, Luis and the Wolf”), it is a follow-up to the short video Lucía. The video was shot frame by frame with a digital photo camera. Materials: charcoal, dirt, flowers, found objects and cardboard.

These are the work of Diluvio, a film production company in Santiago, Chile.

Nov. 18th 2010

Fuzzy Camera – Werewolf Images Digest 3

It’s been a while! Here’s another batch werewolf pictures I’ve seen over the past few months and liked enough to want to save. Lots of these are from old magazine ads, which are neat because they tend to be well-staged, carefully set up photos.



Fuzzy Camera / fuzzycamera.tumblr.com

Standard disclaimer: if I’ve posted something of yours here and you’d rather I didn’t, please let me know. Also, some of these are available on shirts or as prints. Support awesome artists and buy some of their work!

Nov. 17th 2010

Official Trailer makes “Red Riding Hood” look like “Twilight” because of course it does

The trailer for 2011’s Red Riding Hood was just released, and from the look of things, director Catherine Hardwicke is still in denial over not being asked back to direct more Twilight films. See for yourself:

A gaunt, poofy-haired male lead swanning about a forest full of sunbeams with his virginal, angelic female counterpart? Hmmm. Hmmmmm. As excited as I am to hear Gary Oldman say the word “werewolf”, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

Nov. 17th 2010

The Wretched, Awful Trailer for MTV’s Wretched, Awful “Teen Wolf” Remake

Hopes: dashed. This looks like an after-school special with a big effects budget. The producers in charge of this should be fired, first from their jobs, then from a big cannon pointed into a volcano. Good job, MTV: obtain the rights to a quirky 80’s cult film, then replace all of the character, charm and originality with “drama” so lame and predictable it would’ve been cut from The Gates. Oh no, Scott’s got a date with a hot girl on the same night as the full moon! What’s gonna happen? Frankly, MTV, I don’t give a shit, and neither will anyone else.

Viacom is going around DMCAing this trailer wherever it pops up, so if this embedded version doesn’t work, sorry. Or… you’re welcome?

Special shout-out to the special effects crew who worked on this: thanks for the effort. Your work (what little I could see of it in this trailer) looks like the one redeeming feature of this abomination.

Hat tip: manny

Nov. 16th 2010

The Most Bad-Ass Werewolf Suit of Halloween 2010

Christopher Reeves sent me this photo of the werewolf suit he put together for Halloween 2010. Let’s all just stare at it in silent jealousy for a moment, shall we?

My inspiration was “American Werewolf of London” meets “Underwold”. The head and legs were sculpted and cast in latex using a kit from Monster Makers. The stilts were based off of the Gryphern design and slightly modified. The teeth and gums were sculpted and cast using dental acrylic. The body is a spandex body suit that I sewed the muscles into and painted latex on top of it. The forearms and eyes are the only items I actually purchased. Then everything was airbrushed and fur was added. I also installed some led booklights from the dollar store behind the eyes to make them light up.

There’s nothing about this suit that I don’t love. The fur, the colouring, the face, the claws. Nice flippin’ work, Christopher. You set the bar pretty high for next year!

Nov. 15th 2010