Werewolf in a Girl's Dormitory 1961 Horror Movie Review

Originally released as LYCANTHROPUS and renamed WEREWOLF IN A GIRL’S DORMITORY for the American market, this 1961 “B” horror flick is much better than most films in the genre.  For while it cannot compete with “A” productions in terms of production values, it is nonetheless stylish, atmospheric, and often quite clever in terms of plot.

When new professor Dr. Julian Olcott (Carl Schell) joins the staff of a girl’s reform school, he soon finds himself caught up in two shocking situations: blackmail and a student’s death from what seems to be a wolf attack.  Both Dr. Julian and reform-school girl Priscilla (Barbara Lass, the original Mrs. Roman Polanski) have their suspicions about both, and join forces to ferret out the truth.  In the process they must cope with corrupt school employees, horny professors, and jealous wives—not to mention a werewolf!

Now, there are several things that will make a close observer of the film cackle, but this is much to imaginative and neatly done to be a “so bad its good” movie.  The transformation sequences are hardly up to Hollywood standards, but they are reasonably well, and the film has a truly creepy atmosphere that serves it well.  Yes, it is most certainly a “B” movie, but it is a good one, and recommended to fans of the genre.