Teen Wolf (1985)

An ordinary high school student discovers that his family has an unusual pedigree when he finds himself turning into a werewolf.

Director:

Rod Daniel

Writers:

Jeph Loeb (as Joseph Loeb III), Matthew Weisman

Stars:

Michael J. Fox, James Hampton, Susan Ursitti

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael J. Fox	...	Scott Howard
James Hampton	...	Harold Howard
Susan Ursitti	...	Boof
Jerry Levine	...	Stiles
Matt Adler	...	Lewis
Lorie Griffin	...	Pamela
James MacKrell	...	Mr. Thorne (as Jim MacKrell)
Mark Arnold	...	Mick
Jay Tarses	...	Coach Finstock
Mark Holton	...	Chubby
Scott Paulin	...	Kirk Lolley
Elizabeth Gorcey	...	Tina
Melanie Manos	...	Gina
Doug Savant	...	Brad
Charles Zucker	...	Malcolm

Storyline

Meet Scott Howard, a struggling high school student with problems. He is on a lackluster basketball team with a lame duck coach, he is having problems getting noticed by the prettiest girl in his school, Pamela Wells (who already has a boyfriend who wants to ruin Scott's life named Mick McAllister). But in the middle of it all, he feels an effects of a dog whistle and he itches everywhere and even discovers that his nails are longer and sharp. When he came home from a party, he discovers his new problem. He is a half human-wolf hybrid. He tries to keep this a secret, but during a basketball game the secret comes out and it helped Scott to turn his life around, the basketball team starts to become a contender for the state championships. He became very popular, and he was discovered by Pamela, and begin to go out with each other (despite that Pamela is still going out with Mick). However, Scott's father warns him about turning into the wolf out of anger. Scott must watch his anger as ...

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Plot Keywords:

homophobia | homophobic slur | woman in towel | woman wearing a towel | woman wrapped in a towel | 

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Taglines:

He always wanted to be special... but he never expected this!

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 August 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lobo adolescente

Filming Locations:

1727 Bushnell Avenue, South Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$33,086,700

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wolfkill Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "wolf transition" shots were filmed last.

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Goofs

Basketball double is significantly taller than Michael J. Fox.

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Quotes

Stiles: Do the right thing.
Scott Howard: That's all I wanna do, Stiles. That's all I wanna do.

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Crazy Credits

The end credits are shown as the crowd cheers and celebrates in slow motion.

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Connections

Referenced in Hemlock Grove: The Crucible (2013)

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Soundtracks

SURFIN' U.S.A.
Performed by The Beach Boys
Music by Chuck Berry (uncredited)
Lyrics by Brian Wilson (uncredited)
Courtesy of CAPITOL RECORDS, INC.

User Reviews

A Fairly Typical 80's Teen Movie That Loses Some Appeal As You Get Older

I certainly have good memories of this movie. I watched it when it first came out and quite enjoyed it as I remember. Of course, I was much younger at the time. Looking at it now reminds me that I'm getting old, I guess. This is a teen comedy - directed at teens, starring teens (or at least actors playing characters who are teens) and dealing with the normal teen issues such as acceptance and friendships and romance and the changes that accompany those years. Scott, played by Michael J. Fox, has a big change happening. He's suddenly discovered that he can change into a werewolf - a surprisingly friendly one for the most part, but still a werewolf. The change makes him a superstar basketball player who now leads his team to victory after victory and it makes him really popular - especially with the hottest girl in school. Scott was a bit of a strange character to me, though. The movie is supposed to be about the unpopular kid becoming accepted, but having to become something other than who he was to do it, but I didn't get the impression that he was particularly unpopular. He seemed to have lots of friends, he got invited to all the parties (more and bigger ones than I ever got invited to in high school!) - lots of kids have a lot more problems than Scott. The only issue he had was that as Scott he had the hots for the hottie but he couldn't get her to talk to him. I don't think I ever got the hottest girl in high school to pay much attention to me either. So, Scott didn't strike me as having that many challenges or problems to be honest.

In the end, I suppose the message is still worthwhile. He learns that he can't use the wolf to buy friendships, and he convinces the basketball team (who eventually take a dislike to him because as the wolf he dominates every play of every game and the others hardly ever get to touch the ball) that they have to play as a team (without him being the wolf) if they really want to be successful. So, the lesson is - don't put on masks. Be yourself. Point taken. Fox was pretty decent here, and I liked Susan Ursitti as his friend "Boof" - who has the hots for him, but who he doesn't notice because of his fixation with the hottie. (Frankly, thinking back to my high school years - from which I wasn't far removed when this came out - I'd have gone for Boof! She was cute!)