This Stephen King Adaptation Is One of The Best Werewolf Movies Ever Made

The big picture

• Werewolf movies, com
  silver bullet
  have a rich history in Hollywood, from classics like
  An American Werewolf in London
  to campy hits com
  Teen Wolf
  .
• Stephen King's
  Cycle of the werewolf
  novel inspired the heart and terrifying
  silver bullet
  a great coming-of-age werewolf movie with strong characters.
• Despite mixed reviews,
  silver bullet
  remains an outstanding werewolf film with a unique narrative, engaging characters and exciting monster encounters.

In horror, there are a lot of subgenres. You have your slashers, found footage, possessions, zombies, vampires, sharks, and the list goes on and on. One of the most underrated and underutilized subgenres is werewolf horror. There have been great ones over the decades, like An American Werewolf in London, The Howli dog soldiersand there have been bad ones too (stay away from any sequels of The Howl), but one of the best comes from the master of horror himself, Stephen King. Based on his 1983 novel, Cycle of the werewolf1985 silver bullet is the pinnacle of 80's creatures with a horror feature. You have small town America, children in danger, led by Corey HaimHe is Marty, a heroic adult with Gary Busey like Marty's uncle, and some gnarly murders. silver bullet it's right up there as one of the best Stephen King adaptations and one of the best werewolf movies ever made.

Werewolf movies have a long but underappreciated role in horror history

Werewolf movies have a long history in Hollywood. The first was the short film of 1913, The werewolfbut the first big feature was the 1935 Universal monster movie, Werewolf of London. Lon Chaney, Jr. in The werewolf was an even bigger hit in 1941. Subsequent werewolf films, such as 1957's I was a teenage werewolfwere more campy, and also became a source of comedy in the 80s, as with Michael J. Fox's Teen Wolf. While werewolves were never as popular as other horror monsters, two films from the 1980s stand out as all-time classics. Joe Dante's The Howl is the perfect mix of weird comedy and terrifying horror, and John Landis' An American Werewolf in London is a masterpiece, with Rick Baker's practical effects giving us one of the greatest transformation scenes ever filmed.

This was, however, the peak of the werewolves. Cult classics have been made over the years, such as now bad moon, Ginger Snaps, late stagesi dog soldiers, but they are never huge blockbusters. That could change soon with Leigh Whannellthe werewolf set for next year. While werewolves don't get the appreciation they deserve, an underrated entry has held the attention of horror fans for generations. Years 1985 silver bullet it's also a great coming-of-age storyand a truly terrifying fearfest whose teeth won't let go.

'Silver Bullet' began as Stephen King's 'Cycle of the Werewolf'

Cycle of the werewolf it is seen as one of Stephen King's lesser works, not necessarily because of its quality, but because of its brevity. Although considered a novel, its length is barely more than a short story. Although many of King's works draw on immense world-building, Cycle of the werewolf it's simple There are twelve chapters in the novel, with each one representing a month of the year and the lunar cycle. Part of the story is told chapter by chapter, with a werewolf attack, and each entry is accompanied by fantastically creepy illustrations by the artist Bernie Wrighton.

Is Cycle of the werewolfthe simplicity and direct narrative that make it work. It's an easy-to-digest story about a young teenager, Marty, who uses a wheelchair. When an unknown animal kills people every month, it is Marty who discovers the horrible truth. No one believes Marty's claims that the attacks are caused by a werewolf except his Uncle Red. As much as Cycle of the werewolf is a story about a werewolf, it's also a story about a boy with a disability who struggles to get people to see him as real and understand him. The only one who will listen to it is an adult who the other adults don't take seriously either. This drama is perfect for a feature film.

'Silver Bullet' is a werewolf movie with heart and great characters

Stephen King wrote the screenplay for Cycle of the werewolffilm adaptation of silver bulleti Dan Attias, who had never directed a feature film before, was tasked with directing the film. Corey Haim was only fourteen years old when he became the protagonist, Marty Coslaw, and in a few years The lost boyswhere he became a big movie star alongside his friend, Corey Feldman. He got a huge name when Gary Busey got the role of Uncle Red. In 1985, Busey was widely recognized as the actor who had been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his leading role in the 1978 film. The Buddy Holly Story. The relationship between Marty and Red is the heart of the film. Red doesn't look at his nephew and see a boy in need of pity, but as an equal who is more than his disability. His lack of pampering goes as far as build a wheelchair/motorcycle hybrid for Marty that he calls the “Silver Bullet”. There is also a well-constructed relationship between Marty and his sister, Jane (Megan follows), who narrates the film. They can be argued with, but they are also side by side.

Every horror movie needs a great villain to succeed, and silver bullet it's not different Everett McGillwhich would later terrify the public The people under the stairs, plays Reverend Lowe, the man cursed by the werewolf plague. Having a man of clothes turn into something so monstrous was an interesting touch, as his transformation was like a demonic possession that no prayer can ward off. The villain could have been a simple paint-by-numbers scheme, but instead we feel sorry for this man. He doesn't want this pain, and feels deep remorse when he transforms and kills, but how silver bullet continues, his personality begins to change as the risk of being caught increases. Although silver bullet has no effect at height The Howl i An American Werewolf in Londondoes a great job of keeping his monster in the dark, like the scene where attack a mob in the fog or meet Marty in the dark on a bridge at night. It all leads to an exciting ending, with Marty, Red and Jane fighting as one as the werewolf breaks into their home.

Released on October 11, 1985 by Paramount Pictures, silver bullet it didn't set the box office on fire, earning just $12 million at the box office. Reviews were mixed. Roger Ebert gave it three stars despite saying that “it's either the worst movie ever made from a Stephen King story, or the funniest. Either it's just bad, or it's an inspired parody of his entire formula, in which quiet American cities are invaded by indescribable horrors”. Ebert saw silver bullet like it was intentionally funny. it is not The werewolf and his attacks are never a joke. Their perceived failures stem from holding onto masterpieces created a few years earlier. silver bullet not funny, but full of some funny characters who find themselves in a nightmare. They are people with their sense of humor intact, regardless of their environment. Being so full of life, instead of sinking into despair, is what keeps them alive.

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