Curse of the [**]wolf 2003 Horror Movie Review

Curse of the [**]wolf (Mark Pirro, 1988)


Pretty much everything you need to know about Curse of the [**]wolf is in the movie’s title. You know it’s going to be a very politically incorrect, and very probably stupid, comedy about gay people. You suspect that it’s going to play on classic monster movies about werewolves. And if you go into it with no other expectations than this, you’ll probably find yourself mildly amused by it. It’s certainly not deathless cinema, but there are a couple of chuckles to be had.


The movie’s level of humor can be discerned from its main character’s name. He is Larry Smalbut (Michael Palazzolo, who never acted in another film), who’s an average guy in the years just after World War II until he is bitten by a transvestite and turns into the [**]wolf, who becomes a limp-wristed queen when the full moon comes out and has nightmares of rednecks. Inevitably, the story gets out, and it seems his nightmares may be on the verge of coming true. Can Larry regain his straightness before he’s put to the torch?


Pirro is known for making politically incorrect low-budget comedies (Nudist Colony of the Dead is another of his masterpieces), and he’s gotten pretty good at it over the years. It’s pretty interesting what various people can do with a shoestring budget, some big names in cameo roles (the seemingly ubiquitous Forry Ackerman makes an appearance here), and an amusing script. You’re not going to get many guffaws out of this, unless you still bray every time you hear a stupid gay joke, but there are a few clever lines, and some performances that make it worth looking into. The black and white film was a nice touch, as well. Fans of the original The Wolf Man will have fun tracing the parallels. Still, you have to have kind of a thick skin, and of course you can forget all about it if political correctness is your game. Otherwise, though, go into it with no expectations, and you’ll have some fun. ** ½