My latest article on something that I've noticed happening over the years to werewolves!

A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope is a mythical human with the ability to shape shift into a wolf or a wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse or affliction (e.g. via a bite or scratch from another werewolf).

Now, for me growing up, a werewolf was one mean, nasty critter who did unspeakable things to innocent victims. There was always some element of sympathy for the poor soul who has been bitten or scratched by another werewolf and survived, only to turn into the very monster at the next full moon. A victim, yes, but one who initiates limited sympathy.

Nowadays, the character of the werewolf has changed from a vicious killer, to a hunk whose sole purpose is to save lives – especially from those nasty blood sucking vampires! They stick with the original concept of a pack animal, controlled by the Alpha, but of course his love for a woman over-rides all of that instinct. I didn’t know whether to feel sorry for the poor lad who found his true nature during puberty or become annoyed at his constant whining!

Or this poor werewolf type creature known as ‘Wolverine’ is a mutant with rippling muscles, claws (okay, metal ones, but still…!) and is the victim not of a bite, but of a defect of birth, followed by an experiment. He is this mutant constantly, not just at full moons either, but his behaviour has all the classical echoes of a wolf. The same actor portrayed a werewolf in another film, ‘Val Helsing’ but his rage was aimed at the evil vampire and his grief was evident when his love was killed (spoiler alert!) So vicious, yes, but still not ‘bad’.

What has happened to the killer? The ferocious, body tearing monster who prowls the dark moors, stalks his helpless victims and tears them to shreds in full gory detail? That was the werewolf of old. A lone wolf with every last trace of human gone for the duration of the change.

An episode in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ got to grips with that. A likable character gets bitten and he changes into a raging werewolf, who will attack anyone, including the love of his life. That is the true nature of a wolf. It hunts, it kills, and it feeds. Start to give ‘feelings’ to a werewolf and you have a dog! There have been some laughable films over the years that have attempted to make a werewolf likable. ‘Teen Wolf’ ‘Wolf’ ‘Carry on Screaming’.

MV5BMTUzMTk2MjM2Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjgzMTM3NA..._V1_SY105_CR27,0,105,105_AL_Now, don’t get me wrong. I love wolves. They are my favourite animal and spiritual guidesmany times. I respect their existence and their way of life. If I could change into any animal, it would probably be a wolf, but there lies the difference, a wolf is not a werewolf or Lycan as portrayed in the ‘Underworld’ series of films. Where Lycans are violent, killing creatures, but even here, there is an element of sympathy for their plight as they are slaves to the nasty vampires again. One film that certainly hit the spot with werewolves was ‘Dog Soldiers’. A British film, with British actors and set in Scotland – it was truly fabulous with enough gore and bloodshed to leave any ‘feelings’ for the afflicted family at the door!

So I ponder on how society feels about werewolves. Are we trying to make them a little ‘softer’ with a back story that people can identify and sympathise with? Or should we just let them loose on screen and remember exactly what this creature is? Personally, if a gorgeous hunk of a man (namely Hugh Jackman) wants to portray a half naked beastie, then that’s fine by me!!

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P.J Roscoe – Author of award-winning novel ‘Echoes’ and ‘Freya’s Child’