Werewolf Woman (1976) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed By: Rino Di Silvestro
Starring: Annik Borel, Howard Ross, Dagmar Lassander
Rated: UR/Region A/1:85/1080p/Number of Discs 1
Where to get it: Raro Video USA
Daniela, a woman troubled from a childhood trauma, begins to have delusions that she is a werewolf. She spends her nights seducing and killing men, until she meets a kind man named Luca, who she falls in love with. Her happiness is short-lived when she is raped and Luca is killed, reverting her back to her werewolf delusions. Daniela gets her revenge by killing her rapists and Luca’s killers.
Originally titled “La lupa mannara”, but you probably don’t care about that info, Werewolf Woman shows us that PMS isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a woman. A gem of Wolfsploitation and a favorite of my favorite director Quentin Tarantino, Werewolf Woman has some cool moments and is worth seeing, but it didn’t by any means blow me away. You can see where the movie might have influenced some along the way over the years, but I think I’d want a movie with just a little more punch and a better pace overall at the end of the day in my “woman turns to a werewolf” movies. That being said, I do think we have a good lead and she brings more to the table than you’d expect in a role such as this. She might be the main reason to see this one outside of just seeing it just to see it based off Tarantino praise.
The movie could get some praise for straying off the path most traveled with werewolf. The transfer looks good and makes for a pleasant viewing experience and it also sets the mood well. I just think the film needs some more substance to go with the style and look it comes with and had it had more of a sizzle to it we could have a much better werewolf film with much more reward to the hardcore horror fans that I’m sure will be viewing it. There is probably a much deeper meaning to a film like this, but trying to get into detail about what that could all mean might take us too long than I care to take to get into it. It is worth seeing, but might not blow you away.
- Interview with the director
- Trailers
- Fully Illustrated Booklet
