Interactive Wolfman Timeline

The Wolfman is out now! If you’re killing time before your showtime comes up (you are going to see it, right?), I recommend that you level up on your Wolfman history with this interactive timeline from Universal and Substance.

10 Werewolf Movies That Don’t Suck

In an article they’re calling “The Beast Within: Ten Timeless Werewolf Films“, PopMatters has identified what I have to agree are 10 top-drawer werewolf films (even though two of them don’t technically have any werewolves in them). There aren’t any big surprises here, but it was nice to be reminded that for every “Never Cry Werewolf” there’s a “Dog Soldiers”.

“The Wolfman” News Digest, Part 1

With the premiere of “The Wolfman” only days away (remember when it was supposed to come out in 2008?) the web is sprouting Wolfman stories like so many tufts of fur from the collar of Benicio del Toro’s vest. Rather than spamming the site with a new post every time something interesting comes up, I thought I’d collect them all here. Enjoy!

  • As part of a big press push last week, there were a lot of cast / crew interviews. Dread Central’s got interviews with Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins, and ShockTillYouDrop.com had a nice chat with director Joe Johnston.
  • Namco has released a Wolfman side-scrolling game for mobile devices. If you have a supported phone, you can “play through 10 thrilling stages as both Lawrence Talbot and The Wolfman and experience the brute strength and insatiable bloodlust that launched a legacy of horror!” My carrier isn’t supported, so, uh, if it’s good, let me know. It certainly looks cool!
  • Bloody-Disgusting was one of several horror media web sites to get their paws on a recording of the vaunted Wolfman howl. Effective, and much better (in my opinion) than the shrill American Werewolf in London howl!
  • Way back in November, Universal released a short “behind the scene” featurette. There are some comments from Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, and producer Scott Stuber, and some trailer-style footage.
  • As long as we’re talking about stuff from November, here are two rambling but worthwhile interviews from Ain’t It Cool News: one between Joe Johnston and Harry Knowles and another longer, rambley, spoilerific but fascinating conversation between some of the AICN guys and Rick Baker.
  • Internet-to-TV providers Boxee have developed a Wolfman app as part of their public beta.
  • Early reviews are starting to arrive. Here’s one from the New York Observer [warning: spoilers!].
  • A fifth TV spot has surfaced, but it’s nothing we haven’t already seen: a silhouette of a claw, Del Toro getting dunked in ice water, and Rick Baker’s old-gypsy-guy-getting-killed cameo.

If all of this isn’t enough to keep you busy, stay tuned for more as we get closer to Friday!

“The Wolfman” Soundtrack Available Now!

In what appears to be a fortuitous glitch, Danny Elfman’s soundtrack to The Wolfman is available for purchase on iTunes, two weeks ahead of its posted February 23rd release date! (more…)

Goodbye, Friend

Keesha passed away today. Her cancer spread too far, too quickly, and her quality of life declined so rapidly it seemed like she was disappearing before our eyes. This past weekend we made the difficult decision to help end her pain, and today at 4:30 PM the incomparable Dr. Pollen of the Vancouver Animal Wellness Hospital administered drugs that first put Keesha to sleep, then sent her to wherever it is that excellent dogs go when they leave this life. We held her until the end.

Thanks for all of your support and kind words. Those who donated have been contacted regarding their art. The winner of the draw for a copy of The Werewolf’s Guide To Life is Mark K., whose name was selected at random out of a mug.

If you have an animal in your life, go hug them now.

Werewolf Prevention Training Videos

Sam Thomspon and Astrix Home Video care about your home, your attic, and your family. More specifically, they care about protecting these things from a threat that, according to the Department of Homeland Security, costs taxpayers $4 million per year. That threat? Werewolves. If you’re a homeowner, this series of instructional videos contains critical information. For a closer look at what can happen if you don’t take precautions, take a look at Thompson’s movie Living Arrangements.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

New Super Bowl “Wolfman” Trailer

Short and sweet! Thanks for the link, Nyetwerke.

From the Makers of “3 Wolf Moon”: “3 Werewolf Moon” & 2 Other Werewolf T-Shirts

If you’re the sort of person who knows why a t-shirt with some airbrushed wolves on it is hilarious, get ready. Just get ready. The Mountain, creators of the 3 Wolf Moon shirt, have added werewolves to their repertoire of epically airbrushed body coverings. For some reason it’s really difficult to find these shirts on their web site, but if you have patience (and Flash) you can browse the catalog (page 174) and find three new entries in their “Skulbone” imprint: 3 Werewolf Moon, Transformation and Werewolf Moon (all pictured below). Only 3 Werewolf Moon is available online, courtesy of Amazon, but the other two are undoubtedly waiting for you at an authorized The Mountain retailer near you. I would wear the Transformation shirt, and I would only be a little ironic about it. I can admit this.

Thanks to Goldenwolf for letting me know about all three shirts and providing the image!

Eight Werewolves NYTimes.com Would Like to Bring to Your Attention

NYTimes.com has posted a just-snarky-enough-for-the-Internet breakdown of eight canonical movie werewolves (well, seven plus that bland New Moon guy). The author (Dave Itzkoff) watched the films with enough attention to detail to produce some wry comments, but I think the best one of the lot comes early.

[1941’s Wolf Man] Talbot meets his end at the wrong end of a silver walking stick wielded by his father who, while disappointed in his son’s lifestyle, probably never intended to club him to death.

OH SNAP.

Universal Legacy Edition of “The Wolf Man” Available Now

Whenever one of my favourite bands is about to release a new record, I make a point of listening through their entire discography as a sort of warm-up to the main event. I find savouring the new creation all the more enjoyable while the history of the material is fresh in my mind (yes, fine, I’m a geek, but don’t act like you don’t do it too). In that spirit, you might wish to prepare for the 12th by checking out the Universal Legacy Edition of “The Wolf Man”. Although this is the third time in a decade that Universal has re-released the 1941 classic, it sounds like this might be the edition worth buying. In addition to a new restoration of the film itself, the 2-disc set contains all of the bonus material available on 2004’s Legacy Collection version, plus two new documentaries (one on Lon Chaney Jr., the other on the history of werewolf movies). Not bad for twenty bucks!

Thanks to Macabri for the link.