The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (1973)

Movie Info

I want me some woman!!!

A cabin retreat with his father Robert (Kerwin Mathews) turns dangerous for Richie Bridgeston (Scott Sealey) when he is attacked by a werewolf.  With his father bitten coming to his rescue, Richie finds his father has now become a werewolf himself.  With no one to believe him, Richie tries to protect his mother Sandy (Elaine Devry) as the moon grows full.

Directed by Nathan H. Juran, The Boy Who Cried Werewolf was released in 1973 on a double-bill with the cult classic Sssssss (this also was one of the last double feature billings).  The movie received average reviews and has a minor following.

I remember the first learning about The Boy Who Cried Werewolf from a book of horror movies which featured a picture of Scott Sealey being confronted by the werewolf.  As a kid, I thought the image was pretty scary (especially since many other horror films, seeing the werewolf almost always was met by instant death).  Finally, in age of internet I was able to see the “classic”.

Watch out werewolf, I’m going to totally cry!!!

The story is much like that of Invaders from Mars.  It has Richie knowing the truth about the attacker and his father’s condition, but no one believing it.  There is some interesting (and random) werewolf folklore is thrown in…including the whole myth of the length of fingers on a werewolf.  The film however is saddled with a divorce story and a sappy rekindling of romance between Robert and Sandy…which of course turns tragic since Robert has been overtaken by the beast.

The acting for the film likewise is also rather weak.  It was the last leading film role for Kerwin Matthews who made his name in movies like The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Jack the Giant Killer.  Scott Sealey as the “boy” from the title has a tough road to travel and isn’t the best child actor do it.  Elaine Devry likewise isn’t very believable as the estranged wife of Matthews and there is zero chemistry between the pair.  Fans of Police Academy and Punky Brewster might notice George Gaynes in a small role as the psychiatrist.

I’m starting to hate werewolves!!!

A werewolf movie is always judged by its werewolf, and The Boy Who Cried Werewolf’s werewolf is pretty weak.  Generally just wearing some clothes and a face that looks like a terrier, the werewolf isn’t very threatening…it also just kind of stalks around and doesn’t do much attacking.  I just like it when a werewolf is civil enough to keep his clothes on.

The Boy Who Cried Werewolf is a goofy ’70s horror film (horror would be a stretch since it generally comes off as goofy).  If you want a fun, bad horror movie, you should consider checking it.  A TV film of the same title was released on Nickelodeon in 2010.