Phases of the Moon: A Cultural History of the Werewolf Film

by Craig Ian Mann

Examines the cultural significance of the werewolf film Horror monsters such as the vampire, the zombie and Frankenstein’s creature have long been the subjects of in-depth cultural studies, but the cinematic werewolf has often been considered little more than the ‘beast within’: a psychoanalytic analogue for the bestial side of man. This book, the first scholarly study of the werewolf in cinema, redresses the balance by exploring over 100 years of werewolf films, from The Werewolf (1913) to Wildling (2018) via The Wolf Man (1941), The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), The Howling (1981) and WolfCop (2014). Revealing the significance of she-wolves and wolf-men as evolving metaphors for the cultural fears and anxieties of their times, Phases of the Moon serves as a companion and a counterpoint to existing scholarship on the werewolf in popular culture, and illustrates how we can begin to understand one of our oldest mythical monsters as a rich and diverse cultural metaphor.

Genres: Werewolves, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2020

Reviews

[RedDagger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does exactly what it needs to - pens a history of (notable) werewolf films, and ties them to cultural attitudes of the time. These are presented as various overarching periods with a similar theme for the various films within that period, telling a structured narrative as film progresses alongside the historical times they're produced in; each period is shown with a few films that are afforded a thorough analysis, including contextual information of the period they're created in as well as from the lives and beliefs of the producers.

I adore this work for providing more food for thought than the rather shallow interpretations that are generally afforded to werewolf films - something that Craig directly laments himself - and opening up the floor for thinking of werewolves with more cerebral respect than monsters in schlocky horror flicks. An easy must-read for anyone interested in werewolves films!

[Kev Bickerdike · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some fantastic books that deal with the cultural history of the werewolf, but this is the first that academically examines the history of the werewolf on film, and it does so in a way that is knowledgable and engaging, but not to the degree that it alienates the non-academic reader.
If you’re interested in werewolf films, then you really do need to read this amazing book.

[Bruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Do not let the academic nature of this book put you off, as Craig's language is extremely accessible and engaging. I am not an expert on werewolf films, but after reading this book I feel confident about my knowledge on it. Craig is an extremely skilled writer adn this book is such fun to read!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating cultural and critical overview of the werewolf genre, that's essential reading for anyone interested in the form, or in the peculiar ways this particular story construction/mythological archetype seems to find new purchase with every generation.