★ 6 / 10
_**Southern Gothic murder mystery with a werewolf**_ A
Wuchak
_**Southern Gothic murder mystery with a werewolf**_ A young woman is found dead near a bayou town in Louisiana. Was she slain by wild dogs, a person or… a…
_**Southern Gothic murder mystery with a werewolf**_
A young woman is found dead near a bayou town in Louisiana. Was she slain by wild dogs, a person or… a werewolf? The Sheriff (David Janssen) has several suspects: the doctor (John Beradino), the woman’s brother (Geoffrey Lewis), a swamp yokel (John Davis Chandler) and the town aristocrat (Bradford Dillman). Barbara Rush is on hand as the latter’s sister and the Sheriff’s potential romantic interest.
“Moon of the Wolf” (1972) debuted on TV as a Movie of the Week, which was known for producing some really good or even great modest-budget productions, like “Tribes” (1970), “Duel” (1971), “The Night Stalker” (1972), “Kung Fu” (1972), “Short Walk to Daylight” (1972), “Go Ask Alice” (1973), “Pray for the Wildcats” (1974), "Dracula" with Jack Palance (1974) and “Trilogy of Terror” (1975).
As my title blurb says, this one’s a Southern Gothic murder mystery at heart. Despite the werewolf element, it should be enjoyed by anyone who likes Southern Gothics, whether crime dramas, mysteries or horrors, especially from the 60s-80s, like “In the Heat of the Night” (1967), “Squirm” (1976), “Cat People” (1982), “The Skeleton Key” (2005), and so on.
Keeping in mind that it’s a television production from the early 70s with the limitations thereof, the cast is great and the Deep South ambiance is authentic.
The film doesn’t overstay its welcome at a mere 1 hour, 14 minutes, and was shot in Clinton (town) & Burnside (Rodanthe estate), Louisiana.
GRADE: B-
★ 6 / 10
Bad Moon on the rise...
babeth_jr
This made for TV movie, starring the late David Janssen and Barbara Rush is not bad. This movie was made in the early 1970's when the TV Movie of the Week was…
This made for TV movie, starring the late David Janssen and Barbara Rush is not bad. This movie was made in the early 1970's when the TV Movie of the Week was all the rage. Although this movie isn't as good as some of the other horror movies that were made for TV (such as Bad Ronald, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and When Michael Calls,) it is interesting enough to hold the viewer's interest.
David Janssen was a good actor, and he's equally good here. My only complaint about this movie is that it drags in some spots. The werewolf make-up is ludicrous, but hey, what can you expect from an early 1970's t.v. movie? This movie reminded me a lot of The Night Stalker, starring the late, great Darren McGavin. If you are a fan of the Night Stalker, or Made for T.V. movies then you should enjoy this movie.
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