The Company of Wolves (1984)

“The Company of Wolves” is another untraditional werewolf movie like “Cat People”, except this time it does deal with wolves, lots of them. Like “Cat People”, it explores the exploration of sexuality and the loss of innocence. This topic matter is presented through different stories that are told throughout the film with the major story arc on the film ending in with its version of Little Red Riding Hood. Again, there is little violence in this film and it could have had a rating besides R if it hadn’t been for the last story told. The special effects were mostly puppetry and make-up which provided some impressive visuals but were not scary in the least. The cast was included Angela Lansbury as Granny, David Warner (“The Omen”) as Father, and the film was directed by Neil Jordan, who would direct “Interview With the Vampire” ten years later.

The movie begins by setting up the fact that the film takes place within a dream. A modern day Rosaleen is dreaming of herself living within a medieval fairytale forest. Her older sister has been killed by a wolf while she was in the forest; to give Rosaleen’s parents time to mourn, Rosaleen’s Granny takes her to her house for the night. While there, Granny begins to tell Rosaleen stories about men whose eyebrows touch and warning her of the beasts within men. After hearing a few stories over a few visits and being told to never stray off of the forest path, Rosaleen finally agrees to go for a walk in the forest with a boy her age that has a crush on her. They kiss once but she tells him that he has to catch her if he wants to kiss her again. She succeeds in hiding from him but while he is looking for her, he finds a cow that has been killed by a wolf. The townsmen go and trap the wolf, and when her father returns, he has the beast’s forepaw. He thought that it was the same wolf that killed Rosaleen’s older sister but he tells his family that the paw had turned into a human hand. They burn the hand and try to forge the horrid image. One day, Rosaleen meets a handsome hunter in the forest as she is going to visit Granny…and thus the Little Red Riding Hood tale begins, ending with its own unique ending.

Favorite moment – I love the visuals that are used during the killing of Granny.

Second favorite moment – I also love the wedding banquette scene and how the party guests change into wolves and run out…and over a poor peacock walking by outside.

Not frighting but still pretty cool for the 1980's

Rosaleen and Granny

The Wedding Banquette