Werewolf in a Girls Dormitory (Lycanthropus)
Directed by Paolo Heusch
Written by Ernesto Gastaldi
1961/Italy/Austria
Royal Film
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] “What would a racist call werewolves? Wargs? She kind of liked that one, but suspected that racist bastards didn’t read Tolkien.” ― Patricia Briggs, Fair Game[/box]
This Italian/Austrian production doesn’t live up to its awesome American title and poster.
The story is set in a reformatory for wayward girls. Some of the girls are still up to their old tricks, including blackmail and prostitution. The girls and staff start to be savagely attacked. These are at first attributed to a wolf but it soon becomes evident that it is a wolf man. There are several likely suspects.
AKA – though there’s not a wedding in sightThis is more a mystery than a thriller. The werewolf does not reveal himself until near the end and his transformations are less than inspiring. More for those interested in some pretty girls (the heroine) than in gore.
Clip – American theme song and opening
