So, the movie is Battledogs (no, it’s not about dogs) and it aired on SyFy last month. Yes, it’s an original SyFy flick and those usually suck. But still, it’s a werewolf movie and werewolf movies always get love here. Plus it actually looks potentially awesome. Anyway, it’s all about this epic battle against werewolves. The trailer and synopsis remind me a bit of the novel Dog World by Jason McKinney though. Hmmm…

What do you think? Check out the synopsis and trailer down yonder.

Battledogs description:

“When a werewolf virus threatens to decimate New York City — and the world — a rogue general uses the disease to create an army of super soldiers. Battledogs stars Dennis Haysbert, Craig Sheffer, Kate Vernon, and Bill Duke.”

Trailer:

See! It looks like it just might be awesome. Maybe. Possibly. The werewolves aren’t regular wolves, which I know you love, so that gets it some points. There appears to be a scene involving a werewolf jumping on top of a helicopter, that seems rad… unless the werewolf lands on the blades and gets chopped to bits, which is probably what would happen.

But enough about what I think. What do you think of Battledogs? Have you seen it, if so, what did you think? Have you even heard of it or were you in the dark like me?

- Moonlight

About the Author
Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to werewolves and other supernatural beasties. She writes for top genre sites like Vampires.com and Werewolves.com. You will most likely find her huddled over a book with coffee in hand. You can stalk her via her Twitter.

I have and one of my oft-considered such movies is the classic The Howling.

The original, written by John Sayles (based on a novel by Gary Brandner) and directed by Joe Dante, told the story of a reporter named Karen (Dee Walace Stone) who is traumatized during a meeting with a serial killer named Eddie Quint (Robert Picardo). On the advice of a renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Wagner (Patrick MacNee), she and her husband Bill (Dee’s real-life husband Christopher Stone) go up to a mountain retreat filled with odd-balls and New Agers who all seem very friendly. Naturally, everyone in the colony turns out to be a werewolf and worse, Eddie is too. Hilarity ensues as Karen’s husband gets turned and embraces the werewolf lifestyle while her other friend is killed for discovering the colony’s secret.

Now, The Howling is one of the greatest werewolf movies out there and remains a classic. The performances are still great, the dialogue snaps with wit, and the direction and pacing are great. The only area where the movie has not aged so gracefully is in the special effects department; though on the cutting edge of makeup effects technology at the time it was made, many younger viewers who are used to today’s effects will find the transformations laughable. To me, this is a golden opportunity to take a film that was fantastically effective in its day and bring that same vibe back to a new generation.

The basic plot and characters of the film are still perfectly workable in a modern setting. Really, other than modernizing the setting and references, I doubt that I would change the plot of the movie. Everything about it works. I might give Eddie a little more screen time, because I do think that the original missed an opportunity by not letting Karen face off against her serial-killer-stalker and defeat him. Perhaps drop the dim-wit feral Quint brother in favor of letting Eddie hunt and kill Karen’s friend Terry while his sister Marsha brings Bill over to the dark side.

One of the other aspects of the film that I loved was the scene at the end where the doctor tries to defend his “modernization” of the werewolves against the rest of the pack. This is an aspect that I would also like to see get a little more screen time. Sacrifice the “surprise” of discovering that the entire colony is filled with werewolves in favor of exploring that idea. Let’s see some of their interactions. When Marsha brings Bill into the “pack”, let’s follow his initiation into their society. Give Marsha some time to make her case against Dr. Wagner’s repressive strategy and let her have a plan of her own.

The casting possibilities for a film like this are literally limitless, but there are lots of possibilities for cameos from beloved genre actors as well as plenty of roles for warm fluffy actors or comedians who want to do something different.

Taking such a well-written story and simply updating it with the kind of realistic and affordable werewolf effects that movies like the Underworld series have given us, I really think that a Howling remake could really bring our generation a quality werewolf thriller. Let’s bring back “The Original Nightmare!”

P.S. Yes, I’m aware of the so-called remake The Howling: Reborn, but it’s really not a remake in any true sense.

That is the image many of us picture when we think of a secret government lab.  Government labs are places of wicked and unlawful horrors. Where the unnatural and unknown go to get dismantled, studied, and locked away. It’s a bad place. Or so some say.

There are those out there, and maybe even here, who believe that supernatural beings are very real and that they have been kept secret by the government. These conspiracy theorists claim that werewolves really do exist and that they are locked away in secret government labs where they are having experiments performed upon them. Being poked and prodded and studied in every way.

There are entire books dedicated to the subject of the government keeping the supernatural hidden. There are countless individuals who believe that werewolves, vampires and more creatures are locked away in secret labs.

But what do you think?

Do you believe that real werewolves exist and that they are being kept secret by the government? Do you think it’s even possible for the government to keep such a big secret? There are leaders all over the world – do you think other governments have discovered and locked away any werewolves?

Let us know in a comment below what you think. Do you believe that the government is keeping werewolves a secret or do you think the  conspiracy theorists are silly?

- Moonlight

About the Author
Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to werewolves and other supernatural beasties. She writes for top genre sites like Vampires.com and Werewolves.com. You will most likely find her huddled over a book with coffee in hand. You can stalk her via her Twitter.

Personally, I like it… on occasion. I refuse to read only ONE subject or ONE genre. That would get awfully boring awfully quick. So yes, I do read grand romance novels on occasion, just like I occasionally read violent and gruesome novels. I like a mixture. I know many will say “werewolves are supposed to be scary!” But please, tell me where that law is written. There is no right or wrong werewolf. Plus, who says a werewolf can’t rip someone to shreds one minute and have sexy times the next? No one! Fuck rules!  Werewolves can do it all!

But enough about my opinions. What are yours? Do you like werewolf romance novels or films? Do you think it’s ok for a werewolf to be in love? Let me know in a comment below.

Also, going back to the Facebook thing – if you ever want to shoot me an idea or request, send me a message here or on Twitter. I may just pick up your idea.

- Moonlight

About the Author
Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to werewolves and other supernatural beasties. She writes for top genre sites like Vampires.com and Werewolves.com. You will most likely find her huddled over a book with coffee in hand. You can stalk her via her Twitter.

THE WOLF MAN (1945)
Contrary to popular belief, this was not the first werewolf movie. It wasn’t even Universal’s best, but it was a huge improvement over Werewolf of London. Written by Curt Siodmak, a German Jew who had fled Nazi Germany, the film is infused with the themes of alienation and the monster within us all that have become staples of the genre ever since. This movie is almost single-handedly responsible for creating much of the werewolf “lore” that later films would slavishly follow regardless of the fact that it appears in none of the traditional werewolf folklore. Lon Chaney Jr.’s heart-felt portrayal of Larry Talbot is still a treat to watch, especially in contrast to the slightly self-parodying aspect the character took on in later installments of the story. All the acting in the film is top-notch, as is the atmosphere and dialogue. Still a classic!

CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF
This is probably the most folklore-based werewolf movie out there. Oliver Reed stars as the unfortunate son of a serving girl raped by a mad prisoner and thereby cursed from birth to become a werewolf. Hammer’s contribution to the werewolf genre is beautifully photographed and well-acted, if a bit slow in the pacing department. In addition to using one of the less-used werewolf mythologies, this film also distinguished itself by giving the werewolf a design that owed nothing to Jack Pierce’s iconic Wolf Man.

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON
I couldn’t possibly leave this masterpiece out of such a list! Written and directed by John Landis, this ground-breaking blend of humor and horror also boasts one of the best transformation sequences in cinema history. I can’t imagine a werewolf fan who hasn’t seen this film, so I’m preaching to the choir here. This also gets my vote for best use of music in any werewolf film ever. If you haven’t seen it, then shame on you! Go find a copy and watch it!

THE HOWLING
Forget the so-called “sequels”, the original is the way to go! Another classic from the early 80s, released very close to American Werewolf in London, this film featured a very sharp, witty script by John Sayles that paid homage to the classic werewolf films of Universal and Hammer. Note that all the character names are names of werewolf film directors: Terry Fischer, Erle C. Kenton, George Wagner, etc. The film also holds the distinction of introducing a true “wolf man” that looks like a blend of wolf and man, even if the FX makeup and transformation now look a bit dated. The storyline is fantastic and, another first, these werewolves don’t feel “cursed” and have the ability to transform day or night! A great cast of horror movie favorites and an unforgettable ending make this a classic.

SILVER BULLET aka STEPHEN KING’S SILVER BULLET
I still remember that this movie scared the hell out of me as a kid. A kid in a wheelchair facing off against a cunning werewolf with no help but his sister and drunken uncle. Granted, the werewolf FX in this one aren’t the greatest, but the suspense and story are first rate! I defy anyone to watch the scene where the hunters go into the woods to stalk the creature and not feel a shiver. The werewolf who retains the man’s strategic thinking is a really terrifying concept and it’s used to full advantage here. Unlike so many other
werewolf movies, this one really shows the effects of the creature’s attacks on the small town community where King is always at his best. This is probably my favorite Gary Busey performance, as alcoholic Uncle Red, and a great early role for Corey Haim.

DOG SOLDIERS
Want to see a group of special forces soldiers take on a pack of werewolves? Well, this wonderfully effective British film gets full use out of its limited buget and plays out a concept that many movies have attempted before, but never pulled off. Tense and realistic, Dog Soldiers successfully mixes action with horror and suspense. More than a standard elimination movie, the characters are a fun mix and portrayed well by an able cast headed by Kevin McKidd and Sean Pertwee. Often over-looked, this one is worth checking out if you haven’t seen it.

UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS
While the first two entries in the Underworld series had their share of werewolf involvement, this is the one that really focuses on the Lycans. The story of Lucien (Michael Sheen) and his Romeo/Juliet love story with a vampire princess was mentioned in the first movie, but here it receives its full treatment. Aside from the love story, the beautiful historical setting and Spartacus-style slave rebellion aspects helped elevate this entry above the usual action fodder. Of all the series, I also felt that the Lycans had their best look and movement in this film, wolf-like, hairy, and able to run and jump with the fluid grace that a werewolf should possess. Having taken a page from previous films like The Howling and merged it with proper usage of CGI transformation, I feel like these movies have constructed a credible werewolf model that works well (unlike the CG-fest of something like Van Helsing) and sets a good standard for the future. Personally, I prefer when the werewolf can have a story, a personality, and intelligence rather than just being a rampant killing machine.

THE WOLF MAN (2010)
This remake of the classic that started it all received very mixed reviews and remains a love/hate film among genre fans, but I happen to love it. To me, this was everything you could ask for in a remake of something like The Wolf Man. It would have been ridiculous to do a faithful, scene for scene remake because the original features a lot of oddities that would be impossible to overlook in the modern day. Pushing the setting back to Victorian England was a terrific choice, lending atmosphere and a bit more credence to the tale and the exploration of the psychological aspects of Talbot’s character fits perfectly with the intention and style of the original. The film pays homage to both the original as well as Curse of the Werewolf and the action is fierce and furious. The cast is almost unbeatable, with Anthony Hopkins putting a very wry spin on the Claude Raines role.

Well, that’s my list. Agree? Disagree? Did I miss one? Sound off in the comments!

Here’s the official dish on the calendar:

All Claws, No Cuddles

The 2014 Werewolf Horror Calendar is a collection of twelve original artworks by twelve talented horror and fantasy artists. These artists will be commissioned to create new works of art that represent werewolves as we horror fans know and love them: cursed humans who are changed by the full moon into vicious, man-eating monsters. In this calendar you’re going to get blood, guts and horrific transformations, not pious, gutless hippie-wolves or washboard abs to delight Twilight fangirls.

The project is run by the husband & wife team of Andrew Quinton (designer, werewolf-trivia-gatherer and the guy behind Werewolf News and The Supernatural Registration Authority) and contributing artist Tandye Rowe.

What We Need & What You Get

• If successfully funded, this campaign will pay for…
• the time and effort of the artists
• printing costs for the calendar, art prints, bookmarks and buttons
• shipping costs for all deliveries necessary
• IndieGoGo and PayPal fees

Your calendar will contain…

• Twelve original images of werewolves doing what werewolves do best: transforming, then hunting, attacking & feeding on humans
• Exclusive works of art from some of the scary Internet’s best talent
• An 11″ x 17″ standard 365-day calendar with days of “lycanthropic significance” marked
• NO muscular, shirtless boy-men who turn into computer-generated dogs
• NO nature-loving wolf-hippies with beaded feather bangles and blow-dried pelts

Sounds amazing, right? Right! Now go donate! And make sure to check out the artists over on the funding site. They are fantastic.

- Moonlight

About the Author
Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to werewolves and other supernatural beasties. She writes for top genre sites like Vampires.com and Werewolves.com. You will most likely find her huddled over a book with coffee in hand. You can stalk her via her Twitter.

Official description:

“From acclaimed writer and artist team Robert Tinnell and Neil Vokes (THE BLACK FOREST, THE WICKED WEST) comes a sensuous horror epic in the spirit of European horror cinema of the 1960s and ’70s. The death of Carmilla, the seductive vampire, sets in motion events that lead to a monumental struggle between the forces of darkness and a brave band of mortals. Its members include a reluctant young Abraham Van Helsing and a mysterious monster hunter struggling to keep his own inner monster at bay. When Baron Frankenstein is recruited to add his scientific genius to the group’s arsenal, Dracula and his undead kingdom face the possibility of total annihilation. Cover art by Dan Brereton. Suggested for mature readers.”

Here are the good things folks have said about Flesh and Blood:

“Anyone familiar with Hammer films should put this book on your ‘Must buy and devour list.” –AIN’T IT COOL NEWS

“It’s scary stuff, the pace is breakneck, the writing smart and the result is something you’ve never seen before in comic books – a vampire tale told with genuine suspense, intelligence and cinema-like edits.” –USA TODAY

“For fans of classic horror who feel that certain modern franchises have softened the edges of our favorite monsters, FLESH AND BLOOD has arrived to make us scared again.” –FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND

It sounds SO rad! I want it!

Have any of you read this comic? If so, what did you think?

- Moonlight

About the Author
Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to werewolves and other supernatural beasties. She writes for top genre sites like Vampires.com and Werewolves.com. You will most likely find her huddled over a book with coffee in hand. You can stalk her via her Twitter.

Official description:

“International Horror Guild Award-winning author Caitlín R. Kiernan brings one of her most enduring and popular creations to comics!

For nearly as long as she can remember, Dancy Flammarion has fought monsters, cutting a bloody swath through the demons and dark things of the world, aimed like a weapon by forces beyond her control or questioning.”

Writer: Caitlín R. Kiernan
Artist: Steve Lieber
Cover Artist: Greg Ruth

Artwork: 4 out of 5
Love love love the cover art! Love! It’s ominously beautiful. The inside art was basically the same ol’ comic art we see in nearly every comic out there. It was still great though, the werewolf looked badass.

Story: 5 out of 5
The world of Alabaster: Wolves is, well, it’s a mystery. An eerie mystery. Readers are unsure whether or not the story is taking place in a version of our world or a totally alternate universe. But in this first issue, we see Dancy traveling through a world that is similar to ours, but dark and desolate. The birds talk, buses run through empty towns, and there’s an albino 17-year-old albino girl who kills monsters at the request of her angel. We also see the beginning of Dancy’s trouble with the werewolves.

I would suggest giving this comic a read. I’m intrigued by this gritty world and I want more of it.

Have any of you read the entire series? If so, what did you think?

- Moonlight

About the Author
Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to werewolves and other supernatural beasties. She writes for top genre sites like Vampires.com and Werewolves.com. You will most likely find her huddled over a book with coffee in hand. You can stalk her via her Twitter.

Here’s an example I did:

Watercolor resist how-to:

Watercolor paper: You will need paper (of course). The better the paper, the better the quality. You don’t have to spend a small fortune on the best watercolor paper out there, but I strongly suggest not buying the cheapest. I have had bad results with the super cheapy brands. You get what you pay for.

Watercolors and paint brushes: You can find watercolor paints and brushes at every craft store out there. Choose the ones you love the most.

There are three ways I have discovered to do a watercolor resist, by using either a white crayon, a white glaze pen (or colored if you choose), or by using rubber cement.

White crayon: The pros are that it’s very easy to use and you finally have a use for that totally useless white crayon. The con is that the resist doesn’t come out as smoothly and clearly as the pen or rubber cement. Also, piling lots of paint on the crayon ends up ruining the resist. If you use a crayon, all you have to do is write on the paper and lightly paint over. Easy!

Glaze pen: I am SO in love with these glaze pens. I would have done this werewolf project with the pen, but I used my white pen so often I ran out of ink. For an older example I did with the pen click here. The awesome thing about using these for resist is that it’s SO easy. It’s a pen, so writing is very easy, and it doesn’t require being careful. All you do is write, wait a few minutes for it to dry, and then paint over it.

Rubber cement (what I used above): Rubber cement smells VERY strongly, so open up a window before doing this one. I love using rubber cement! It comes off so cleanly and looks crisp and amazing. The bad thing about rubber cement (other than the smell) is that it’s not as easy to use as the other methods. If you are going to write with rubber cement for this project, you will need to put it in something to write with. It comes in a jar and you can’t write with a jar. I found a little squeeze bottle at the craft shop perfect for writing, I just filled it with the glue and set off.

Once you have your supplies, you carefully write out your quote with the rubber cement on the watercolor paper. When the cement is dry, start painting! Be creative, let yourself go wild. After the paint has completely dried, take your finger to the rubber cement and rub and rub. It will come off super easily. And that’s that.

In my project below I wanted to show the difference between writing with rubber cement and painting with it. The werewolf was painted on with a brush, which is why it’s a bit rougher (and not as nice to look at). The word was written with the squeeze bottle, which is why it came out so clear.

And there you have it! Now it’s time to create! Feel free to ask me questions below and show me your creations once you’re done!

Happy creating!

- Moonlight

About the Author
Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to werewolves and other supernatural beasties. She writes for top genre sites like Vampires.com and Werewolves.com. You will most likely find her huddled over a book with coffee in hand. You can stalk her via her Twitter.

Description for book 1 of the Grey Wolves series:

“Jaque Pierce was just an ordinary 17 year old girl getting ready to start her senior year in highschool in Coldspring, TX. When a mysterious foreign exchange student from Romania moves in across the street, Jacque and her two best friends Sally and Jen don’t realize the last two weeks of their summer were going to get a lot more interesting. From the moment Jacque sets eyes on Fane she feels and instant connection, a pull like a moth to a flame. Little does she know that the flame she is drawn too is actually a Canis Lupus, werewolf, and she just happens to be his mate, the other half of his soul. The problem is Fane is not the only wolf in Coldspring, TX. Just as Fane and Jacque are getting to know each other, another wolf steps out to try and claim Jacque as his mate. Fane will now have to fight for the right to complete the mating bond, something that is his right by birth but is being denied him by a crazed Alpha. Will the love Fane has for Jacque be enough to give him the strength to defeat his enemy, will Jacque accept that she is Fane’s mate and complete the bond between them?”

It’s a love story. But a VERY popular one. Have any of you read it, if so, what did you think? If not, will you give it a shot?

- Moonlight

About the Author
Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to werewolves and other supernatural beasties. She writes for top genre sites like Vampires.com and Werewolves.com. You will most likely find her huddled over a book with coffee in hand. You can stalk her via her Twitter.