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Teen Wolf (1985) - Blu-ray Review

4 beersPuberty, man, what a frigging nightmare.  So many changes in the body.  Complete with raging hormones, it’s a horror show in and of itself.  Well, for one high school dude, puberty brings on a whole hell of a lot of howling trouble.  Aroo!  Aroo!  Arooooooo!   

Yes, that is yak hair glued to actor Michael J. Fox's face.  Teen Wolf does so many things right that it is really hard to knock it.  Ultimately, it's a superhero origin movie.  Don't believe me?  Look closely.  Scratch and sniff if you must, this is a comic book tale that absolutely works in that it flips the horror formula by presenting a monster that people are NOT afraid of.  They love him.  He does heroic things like a superhero would.  Genius.  

“It landed on my face!” It’s hard to believe that Teen Wolf is over 30 years old.  It feels like only yesterday when I walked my fat ass to the movie theater in my hometown to go see it.  Filmed when Fox's star was rising thanks to Family Ties, it would be his most memorable time, too.  Teen Wolf was a go, but he'd also just been tapped to replace Eric Stoltz in Back to the Future, too.  Wow.  From the first slap in the closet because of Scott Howard’s long fingernails to the final shot of the basketball game, this comedy - and Fox's heroically comic performance - was my grade school jam. 

Who can forget Scott’s transformation scene in the bathroom and the confrontation with his father (James Hampton) who is a werewolf, too?  Growing up, it was one of my favorite moments and, as Scott sees his new abilities as another in a long line of teenage problems, I could relate to its message of the changes a young man’s body goes through during puberty.  Directed by WKRP's Rod Daniel, Teen Wolf nails both the funny and the father and son relationship, which is essential to the movie's success.  

“It’s broken,” says the little snot in the hardware store continuously blowing a dog whistle.   It’s a high-pitched whistle that only Scott can hear because, as the title of Teen Wolf suggests, he is turning into a werewolf.  And it’s a gradual one, manifesting in stages.  He’s of age, you know, and perfectly harmless but a werewolf nonetheless.  He’s a gentler version of horror’s howling man.

Before it was a series on MTV and before it was a hit animated show, Teen Wolf started as a coming-of-age comedy as super nerd Scott Howard (Fox) goes through some hair-raising changes.  And it starts with the discovery of a long strand of hair on his naked chest after a basketball game.  From there come the red eyes, the pointed ears, the teeth, and the hair!  All thanks to practical wolf make-up artist Jeff Dawn.    

Teen Wolf is not a horror film.  I have to state that as there’s someone out there who thinks otherwise.  Written by Jeph Loeb and Matthew Weisman, this comedy doesn’t bother with anything frightening – unless getting dicks stuck in a vacuum machine bother you – and it certainly doesn’t bother with ANYTHING gothic in nature.  Well, there is a full moon but one house party after another sort of kills any supernatural vibe it might have scared up. 

This is a film about common high school insecurities as one young man begins to discover that he can get kegs of beer thanks to glowing red eyes and a gravelly growl in his voice.  Oh, and he also surfs on the top of a van as it cruises through traffic.  He jams to the Beach Boys and fails to impress every woman he meets.  That is until he transforms into THE WOLF.  Then, he’s a killer on AND off the basketball court as his shaggy suaveness comes out in spades…just like his fangs.

And he’s being dogged by the principal of the high school.  From the first freak-out scene to Scott’s acceptance of the new bod, Fox nails this performance.  Who else can slip and slide down high school halls like him anyway?  And his delivery?  Every single line rings true.  

Scream Factory gives us an updated look at Teen Wolf with their NEW 2K scan of this 1985 hit film, supplying it with plenty of bonus features, including a damned interesting documentary about the making of the movie. 

Simply put, you NEED this updated blu-ray release in your collection.  After all, it gave us Stiles (Jerry Levine) and his legendary “What Are You Looking At Dicknose” t-shirt.  The actor might have been 27 when he played the part, but boy did he ever inspire a whole generation of high school students with his antics (and his acceptance) both on and off a moving wolfmobile. 

For a howling good time, look no further than this comedy cult classic from 1985.  Never. Say. Die.

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[tab title="Details"]

Teen Wolf (1985) - Blu-ray Review

MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime:
91 mins
Director
: Rod Daniel
Writer:
Jeph Loeb, Matthew Weisman
Cast:
Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Susan Ursitti
Genre
: Horror
Tagline:
He always wanted to be special... but he never expected this!
Memorable Movie Quote: "Got his dick caught in a vacuum cleaner."
Theatrical Distributor:
Atlantic Releasing Corporation
Official Site:
Release Date:
August 23, 2017
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
August 8, 2017
Synopsis: Like all teenagers, Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox, the Back To The Future trilogy) is going through some ... changes. But unlike the rest of the students at Beacontown High School, Scott's changes include long hair that covers his entire body, claw-like fingernails, fangs, a heightened sense of smell, superhuman strength and the extraordinary ability to ... play basketball? And that's just the beginning.

Naturally, these uncanny new features turn this lovable loser into the most popular kid in school. But by embracing his newly minted popularity, has the Teen Wolf lost sight of what it truly means to be Scott Howard?

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Teen Wolf (1985) - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray
- August 8, 2017
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English SDH
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Damn, does this 1080p transfer every sparkle with rich details.  Colors – like Scott’s blue and gold school jacket – absolutely pops in the new transfer.  Black levels are deep and defined.  Edges hold their lines well.  Textures are identifiable and individual items of clothing have layers never before noticed.  The film is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and supports a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, presenting the dialogue up front and carrying a nice balance between the effects and the soundtrack.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

This release contains a new 2017 High-Definition Film Transfer taken from the interpositive.  It looks glorious.  Also included is a new comprehensive documentary about the making and legacy of the film, including brand-new interviews with writers Jeph Loeb and Matthew Weisman; producers Mark Levinson and Scott Rosenfelt; stars Susan Ursitti-Sheinberg, Jerry Levine, Matt Adler, Jim MacKrell and Troy Evans; basketball double Jeff Glosser; casting director Paul Ventura; production designer Chester Kaczenski; special effects make-up artist Jeff Dawn; and editor Lois Freeman-Fox. Clocking in at over two hours, it’s longer than the movie itself.  The release is rounded out by a theatrical trailer and a still gallery.

  • Never. Say. Die. The Story Of Teen Wolf
  • Original Theatrical Trailer
  • Still Gallery

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[tab title="Art"]Teen Wolf (1985) - Blu-ray Review

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