Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory

source: Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory

Lycanthropus

This Italian horror flick was released in the U.S. in 1963 as WEREWOLF in a GIRLS' DORMITORY. Filmed in black and white for the atmosphere helped some. But you can tell this project had a 'shoe string' budget. The story line sustains suspense although the special effects are lacking. The acting is horrible and is so inept that this is a fun watch instead of hide your face horror. A bad girls' reformatory is terrorized by a werewolf. Cast members of note are: Barbara Lass, Curt Lowens, Carl Schell and Luciano Pigozzi. The brief theme song is retro cool "Ghoul in School".

"Lycanthropus" is a tedious little horror flick with nothing to really recommend it for. I stuck it out to the end, and wish I hadn't. It was a waste of my time. The movie is immediately distancing and uninteresting and never gets past this. It is not very well photographed, often appearing blurry and amateurish, and the dialogue has been recorded poorly. The plot is something to do with a "werewolf in a girls' dormitory", as the English language title goes. It's sort of a slasher flick with girls apparently getting offed by a mostly unseen villain. Thanks to that title, we already know it's a werewolf... but who is it? I didn't care at all.

It has been over 40 yrs. since i first saw this film. There were a few things i had remembered about the film, however, most i had forgotten. This is a black and white film made in 1961. I was about 16 when i first saw it and thought it was pretty neat. That is because i thought that Barbara Lass was cute so naturally, i liked the film. Now, over 40 yrs. later i have it on DVD. Barbara Lass is still cute, but the film lost a lot since i first saw it. The story is easy to follow and figure out. The werewolf doesn't have much hair but passes as OK. The actor, Curt Lowens, did a descent job. The suspense is alright and overall you should find this film mildly enjoyable. Get you're sweetie and you're popcorn ready. Enjoy. John R. Tracy.

Unless your taste runs to blood and gore I wouldn't get too exciting over the titillating title Werewolf In A Girl's Dormitory. Even though this is a special school for girls with behavioral problems they're all quite respectably clothed. There isn't even that much blood in the film although the usual screaming quotient is there. This film also illustrates the fickleness of careers even in one family. Around a time when Maximilian Schell got a Best Actor Oscar for Judgment At Nuremberg and sister Maria Schell was doing things like the big budget remake of Cimarron, brother Carl was busy doing Werewolf In A Girl's Dormitory. He's a new faculty member who actually is experimenting in lycanthropy when bodies start popping up around the school. Naturally suspicion falls on him. All kind of dumb, only for the most addicted horror and gore fan.

Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory is one of those old drive in type movies which is actually a pretty good film. They acting is good by the cast but it seems like all of them were dubbed. This is a very unusual movie and the werewolf is different looking which he actually resembles the Werewolf of London of the Universal Monsters. Its amazing how some of the characters looked in the film. One actor had a bleach blonde hair style, another actor looked and acted like Walt Disney, the lead actress resembled Kim Cattrall, and the care taker looked like a ghoul without trying to be! Its just something I noticed. This film isn't bad at all. This is part of a double feature which the other on the tape is called Blood Creature which is also a good oldie! For horror and werewolf fans don't miss this one!

Everything is almost perfect in this underrated horror movie, except the stupid theme song, which was probably added for American distribution only. The scenes in the woods are atmospheric and thrilling due to competent cinematography. The main plot (who is the werewolf stalking a girls reformatory?)might be simple, but it is supplemented with an intriguing subplot of prostitution and blackmail centered around the reformatory. No surprise that the script is by Ernesto Gastaldi who wrote some of the masterpieces of Italian horror cinema in 1960s.

There is something bleak and disjointed about this film. First of all, I appreciate the fact that it has an interesting story and a few obstacles thrown in the viewers path. The movie is as much psychological as it is horrific. I don't like slasher movies and am bored with them, especially the ones out of the era where this movie appeared. It turned out to be kind of an atmospheric werewolf movie. It's deliberately misleading at times. Characters are there for no other reason than to confuse us. But it plays by the rules. The main female figure is quite pretty. The rest of the girls seem rather the same and there's a stuffy restraint all around. Nevertheless, there are some attacks, pretty good special effects, and an interesting conclusion.