The Werewolves In Twilight Aren’t Real Werewolves

Okay, I’ve had enough. Every time I pick up a paper or a magazine, browse through blogs or read a news web site, someone is going on about the “werewolves” in Twilight. Aside from being boring, clichéd, visually uninteresting and a misappropriation of Native American culture, the werewolves in Twilight aren’t real werewolves. This fact is even printed in Breaking Dawn, the last book of the series (chapter 37, look it up). I was willing to let this go, but it’s getting so I can’t even walk down the street without hearing someone sighing dreamily over “those hot Quileute werewolves”. People are making their own Twilight-inspired werewolf stuff out of craft supplies and selling them to each other online. There are dozens of Twilight-based “OMG R U A WEREWOLF OR A VAMPIRE??” online quizzes designed to fill up your sister’s MySpace page and destroy the signal-to-noise ratio on Twitter. Don’t even get me started on the blog discussions.

So what can I do? Well, as an Internet-savvy werewolf fan, I can try to enlist your help in making a number get bigger:

http://werewolf-news.com/twilight/

It’s not much, but it’s something. If you feel the same way I do about this crazy business, please share the URL. Post it on your blog, spread it around on Twitter, and participate in the grim satisfaction of having complained about something on the Internet. You might feel a little bit better– I did.

Aug. 1st 2009

“Astounding Wolf-Man #25 Cover” by Jason Howard

Astounding Wolf-Man #25 Cover by Jason Howard
[click for full version]

Jason Howard does the killer artwork for The Astounding Wolf-Man, which you need to be reading if you’re not already doing so. I’m not going to talk about why this picture is awesome, or why dragoniaKMP submitted it as a suggested Weekly Werewolf image. I mean, just look at it. Jason Howard knows how to draw bad-ass werewolves, and if you need further proof, check out his DeviantArt gallery or pick up a copy of the lastest Astounding Wolf-Man.

Aug. 1st 2009

New Werewolf Poll for August: The worst word to describe a werewolf transformation

I’m going to start running a monthly poll on Werewolf News. You might have noticed two previous polls over there in the top right corner of the home page, but they weren’t run for any particular length of time– starting today, there will be a new one every month. This month’s question: Which is the worst word to describe a werewolf’s transformation? This question was inspired by the sudden appearance of the word “phase” in a lot of recent Twilight-related news articles (I get those whether I want them or not, thanks to Google News). I’ve been a werewolf fan for a long time, and “phase” is hands-down the single dumbest word I’ve seen used to describe a werewolf’s metamorphosis. Let’s see how many of you agree with me! Cast your vote, and if you’d rather vote for a word not listed, just leave a comment on this post.

[poll id=”3″]

Aug. 1st 2009

More Wolfman Rumours: Baker Brought Back On to Save Transformation Scenes?

This morning at ShockTilYouDrop.com, Ryan Rotten shares some inside information he’s received about the oft-delayed Wolfman remake.

One tipster says Universal has sunk nearly $10-30 million into re-shoots in England. Much of the scenes had to do with the full Wolfman makeup because it wasn’t “working out” and “was too much like the original” Chaney makeup. Another writer tells me Rick Baker was brought back in to direct practical transformation work because the CGI, again, wasn’t working.

Ryan stresses that these tidbits should be treated as rumours, but that he’ll try to get corroborating statements from official sources. It’s a shame about the makeup being redone, as I rather liked the official publicity photos that have been floating around since March 2008. I certainly hope the part about Baker being brought back on for the transformation scenes is true, though– around this time last year, he was unhappy at being excluded the first time round, and as we all know from An American Werewolf in London and The Howling, Rick Baker knows how to turn a person into a werewolf properly: physical makeup and effects, rather than CG.

Jul. 30th 2009

12 Short Stories About Werewolves, Cowboys and Silver Bullets

SOScotland sent me a note on Twitter, kindly informing me that there are 12 short stories about werewolves available to read in their entirety (or listen to via podcast) on Jeffery Hite‘s web site. Jeffery does a weekly thing where authors are invited to write between 100 and 3,000 words on a designated topic, and the topic this time around is “Silver bullets, the real reason that some cowboys carried them.”

The titles and authors are:

  • Silver Bullets; the real reason that some cowboys carried them by Eric Moseman
  • Skinwalker by Travis Nelson
  • High Moon by Zach Ricks
  • Waltzing with Werewolves by Mick Bordet
  • Bad Medicine by Scott Roche
  • Letters by Danny Machal
  • Silver Solves The Dilemma by Mick Bordet
  • Suspicions and Silver Bullets by Eldon KR
  • Silver Bullets by Val Griswold-Ford
  • Other kind of Vampire by Patrick and Jeff Hite
  • Changing Times by Jeffrey Hite
  • To be a man, part II by Norval Joe

There’s some great reading material there, and you can vote for your favourite, so go check them out!

Jul. 29th 2009

The Wolfman Delayed Yet Again

Okay, now I’m concerned. According to numerous sources, including the official web site, Universal has bumped the release date of The Wolfman again, this time pushing it all the way back to February 12, 2010. That’s a three month move from its previous release date of November 6 2009, and nearly 10 months off its original release date of April 9, 2009. Producer Scott Stuber says it’s strictly a marketing decision, but couple these delays with the hints of a werewolf re-design and the film’s conspicuous absense from the San Diego Comic Con and you’ve got signs of a troubled production. Not all of the new is bad, though. Word is that the first official trailer for The Wolfman will debut August 21st, with the release of Quentin Tarintino’s Inglourious Basterds.

Jul. 29th 2009

SDCC Photos of Mazco “Wolfman” Figures

Mazco Wolfman Figures - SDCC

ArcLight wrote in to let me (and all of you) know that Bloody Disgusting posted some close-up photos of Mazco’s official Wolfman figures. Three versions of a wolfed-out Lawrence Talbot were shown at the San Diego Comic Con, including an awesome “bloody” version. They say that you need to visualize the future you want, in order to achieve it, so let me say this again: I will have these. Click through to Bloody Disgusting to see more photos!

Jul. 28th 2009

Tim Burton Confirms Next Project: “Dark Shadows”

Last week at the San Diego Comic Con, Tim Burton confirmed that once he’s finished with his Alice in Wonderland remake, his next project will be an adaptation of the gothic TV series Dark Shadows, featuring werewolves, vampires and zobmies. This is a nice follow-up to last year’s quasi-rumour on the subject. Bring on the new Quentin Collins!

Jul. 27th 2009

Nick Dudman Talks About Harry Potter Werewolf Makeup

Make-Up Artist Magazine and the Los Angeles Times have both posted short interviews with Nick Dudman, the head makeup effects designer for the Harry Potter films. In each interview, Dudman talks about the efforts behind developing and applying the prosthetics for werewolf character Fenrir Greyback (played by Dave Legeno). There’s not much in the way of photos, but still worth a read!

Jul. 24th 2009

House of the Wolf Man

House of the Wolfman

Late last week, Nuke The Fridge got the scoop on Eben McGarr‘s retro-fantastic indie film House of the Wolf Man, starring (among others) Ron Chaney, the grandson of the original Wolf Man, Lon Chaney, Jr.

“Dr. Bela Reinhardt (Chaney) has invited five people to his castle to see which of them will inherit his estate. He has arranged for a competition of sorts, the victor shall be determined through process of… elimination,” McGarr tells Bloody-Disgusting. “The film was shot in black and white, 1:33 aspect ratio and is a good old fashioned monster movie that you could bring your kids to.”

If you missed Chaney and McGarr at the San Diego Comic Con (apparently they were there, but schedule details are sketchy), Bloody-Disgusting has the convention trailer, and you’ll find more amazing (and super-hi-res) photos like the one above here. NukeTheFridge.com also has some great shots of the monsters.

I don’t know about you, but seeing these photos and watching the trailer made me grin ear-to-ear. Thanks to NukeTheFridge.com, ArcLight and Bloody-Disgusting for the info.

Jul. 24th 2009