| | | | Teen Wolf
(1985) |
great fun flick with a great pop soundtrack. The talented MICHAEL J FOX stars as Scott Howard, the teenager who discovers that his family heritage amounts to more than most.
Dissatisfied with life and his losing streak playing basketball for Beacon Town's own 'Beavers', Scott soon finds that the 'changes' he is going though give him extraordinary powers both on the court - and off.
"I am sick of being so average" (Scott Howard)
Soon Scott changes for the first time. The legendary transformation scene is still very effective and never fails to amuse when they reveal that Scott's Father Harold Howard is also an aged werewolf!
 Aided crudely by a fantastic JERRY LEVINE as his friend 'Stiles' - a schemer with a party attitude, Scott is persuaded to exploit the Wolf to gain popularity. He begins to use his Wolf-ability to perform for the downtrodden basketball team, neglecting his childhood sweetheart, Lisa 'Boof' Marconi, and winning the affection of the school babe Pamela Wells. Meanwhile, the Wolf keeps dunkin' baskets with animal aerobatics!
Coach Bobby Finstock is ecstatic in a hilarious performance from JAY TARSES who has more classic lines in this movie than anyone I can think of:
"...Never get less than 12 hours sleep. Never play cards with a guy with the same first name as a city and never go near a lady with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Everything else is cream cheese." (Bobby Finstock on the rules of life)
Due to the skeletons in Harold Howard's past as a werewolf, 'TW' is tracked mercilessly by his father's old nemesis, headmaster 'Rusty Thorne', and is also the the target of much unwanted aggression from Pamela's fabulously nasty boyfriend Mick (MARK ARNOLD).
Moved by his father's warnings, and realising that the Wolf has become too much of a gimmick, Howard finally learns the power of the gift. He wakes-up to the worthwhile girl in his life, Boof (SUSAN URSITTI), and gambles his determination by playing for the basketball team as himself in the District Championship Final.
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Despite what was clearly a low budget, the film manages well with it's cartoonish special effects and keen performances from Fox and Levine. Fox's charisma is really what elevates the film out of any run-of-the-mill 'I was a Teenage Werewolf' schlock horror-comedy and into a more poignant and lasting tribute to the decade we call 'the frivolous 80's'. Creating a formula that would be mimicked countless times, Teen Wolf, like many other 80's films presented us with entirely new concepts for scenes. Never before had we witnessed an 'Urban Surfing' Wolf who does handstands on the top of a Wolf Mobile!!
"These waves are mine" (Teen Wolf)
What makes this film so special, is it's casual blend of drama and outrageous plot points. Drama teacher Kirk Lolley (SCOTT PAULIN) provides some early laughs with his direction of Pamela in the school play:
"More sensuous darling, want to feel you, want to smell you... hurt me" (Kirk Lolley)
Particular mention should also go to JAMES HAMPTON as Scott's Father - who allows the acting to seep into Teen Wolf in those scenes where he confronts his son about the public exploitation of his powers.
Perhaps 'pure popcorn' to most viewers, Teen Wolf has always held a strange importance to me as a piece of 80's culture, and although i do not wish to ascribe some sort of earth-shattering intelligence to the production, I feel that as a film which simply would not reach production today, it resonated with that intangible 80's humour which is absent from the Hollywood of the last decade and today. It defined all the necessary categories, the jock, the geek, the princess etc....but it had a terrific tongue-in-cheek irony and a surprising amount of style. Coupled with the classic pop soundtrack, the basketball victory still remains for me, one of the unforgettable 'against the odds' triumphs of 80's cinema, especially since it didn't bathe too lavishly in cheese afterwards a la "Lucas" with it's 'Jock Ovation scene.'
Endlessly quotable, the opening credits still look really cool, but I never could quite grasp how to interpret the punch-out at the disco scene..? They're laughing at the Wolf right? Or is it Mick?
My verdict: A comforting lycanthropian pillow, on which to lay your weary contemporary cinematic head.
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Looking at the original draft of Matthew Weisman and Joseph Loeb III's screenplay, the film actually begins with the dream sequence we hear Scott describing to Boof early in the movie. They obviously chose not to shoot it or dropped it from later drafts. Also, the movie doesn't end at the basketball game. There is an additional scene (as there are many throughout) where Stiles almost crashes the Wolfmobile in the parking lot, but Teen Wolf springs into action and saves him. It is quite clear that Michael J. Fox brought a tremendous amount of humour and humanity to the Wolf, as he is an entirely different entity in the script - referred to in a very alienated novelty fashion. 
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The "real" name of the character whose nickname is "Boof" is Lisa Marconi, played by Susan Ursitti who also appeared in 21 Jump Street as Tracy Maldonaldo.
Never really apparent how the advent of a basketball-playing Werewolf in a small town didn't provoke 'Scientific American' to be camped on his doorstep -:)
Michael J Fox's love interest played by Lorie Griffin attended Sandia High school in Albuq. NM. Class of '79! -Thanks to Joe Sherwood
James Hampton is excellent in the movie "Condorman" 1981. I believe it is some of his best work. -Thanks to Kris Petersen
In 1962, way before Teenwolf was ever even a thought, Spiderman debuted in the comic "Amazing Fantasy" #15. His uncle does say to Peter Parker in this comic "With great power there must also come great responsibility!" This was also repeated in flashback scenes in comics: Marvel Tales #1Marvel Tales #137Amazing Spider-Man #275 Spider-Man Classics #1 Marvel Masterworks Vol. 1Spider-Man Essentials I100 Greatest Marvels Of All Time #1So as you can see, that quote has been important to Spiderman fans and Peter Parker for over 44 years! And Teenwolf is the ripoff artist here, not Spidey! -Thanks to Elizabeth Wright
Actually made before "Back to the Future," Teen Wolf was held back at the behest of the Producers in order to capitalise on Fox's profile as the 'hottest property in Hollywood' after BTTF. Michael J. Fox has subsequently never had anything good to say about the movie, which is a shame, and also explains his total absence from the sequel, "Teen Wolf Too", which starred Jason Bateman. Michael only says "Looking back, I have no idea what I was thinking." in his autobiography. We say "lighten up Mikey. Watch it again. It's a truly great movie, loved by lots of people".
This script also has one of the cleverest introductions to a comedy screenplay that I've ever read:-
"Due to our strong personal convictions, we wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult. Nor do we propose that any beings, supernatural or otherwise, actually exist.
(page over)
Most of what follows is true."
The funny introduction in the screenplay is an almost word-for-word spoof of the intro for Michael Jackson's 1983 Thriller video. The statement was later added due to the backlash Jackson recieved for the video's supernatural theme. -Thanks to Aaron E.
A guy named "Brad Kreisberg" posed for the Teen Wolf poster. It's his body with Michael J. Fox's head superimposed over it. Brad's body was also used for Pierce Brosnan's body for the poster to the movie "Nomads." -Thanks to Jason O.
The red/yellow Jacket that Michael J. Fox wears on the cover of the poster is the same one that Michael Jackson wears when he changes into a werewolf in the Thriller video. Instead during the course of the movie Michael J.Fox wears The B- Letter Beacon Blue/Yellow jacket
People often say that a very young Andrew Shue from Melrose Place makes an early appearance when he utters "You bozos better shape up out there I cannot do this by myself"... In fact the actor is Doug Savant, also from Melrose Place. -Thanks to Paul Warner II
For some reason, during the final basketball scene, Mick is allowed to stand directly under the basket while Teen Wolf shoots his free throws. He would have to stand outside of the lane like the other players. This was obviously to add some drama to the scene, since Mick stares him down. But it would never be allowed in a real high school basketball game. -Thanks to Neil Helsper
The guy who plays Rusty Thorne, Jim McKrell, also stars as a cameo in Gremlins, he is the news reporter at the end of the film. He uses the line 'Little green men'. -Thanks to 80'S Guy
Teen Wolf's popularity amongst children caused them to make a cartoon of the movie. It ran from 1986 to 1989 on CBS. -Thanks to Michael Vito
James Hampton, the actor who played Scott's father in Teen Wolf, reprised his role not only in Teen Wolf Too but also in the short-lived Teen Wolf cartoon series. -Thanks to Koeago
The Beavers Mascot shown in the film is an exact copy of the old, and no longer used, "Benny Beaver" logo used by Oregon State University. The school quit using that style of Beaver logo in the late 1990's. -Thanks to Marcel
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Teen Wolf or 80's Romantic Comedy classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Can't Buy Me Love ..... Say Anything ..... Some Kind Of Wonderful ..... Sixteen Candles ..... Valley Girl ..... Switching Channels ..... Grandview, U.S.A. ..... Dance 'til Dawn ..... Don't Tell Her It's Me ..... Mannequin ..... Secret of My Success ..... Secret Admirer ..... Pretty In Pink ..... She's Having a Baby ..... Dream A little Dream .....[More]
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During one of the last shots of the movie, after the basketball game, there is a girl standing in the bleachers as everyone goes to congratulate Michael J. Fox, and her PANTS ARE UNZIPPED!!! For some reason, the girl notices this in the middle of the shot, and tries to zip up her pants, but it doesn't look like she can get them zipped up, so she covers herself for the rest of the shot. Look for the girl in the red sweater to the left of the screen - there's no one else standing around her.
In the scene where Scott comes down to breakfast the morning after the transformation, the lip synching is dreadful!
During the scene where Fox's character Scott is attempting to purchase the keg, the three cusomers in front of him in line are all exchanging dialogue with the cashier, yet none of their mouths are moving... -Thanks to Dan Renfrow
In the scene where Scott is at his locker and Styles' locker busts open and Boof tells Scott she missed him at lunch. Pamela walks up, talks and walks away, as she walks away, he closes the locker and they scan back and he is standing with the locker open.
During one of the soundtrack fueled basketball scenes you can clearly see that "teen wolf" is being portrayed by a much taller african american double.
We'll just skip the dozen or so basketball rules infractions committed during the b-ball sequences (e.g. Scott going to the free throw line after getting tripped right after the jump ball of the Cadets game; would've been ball out of bounds on the side). Instead, I really just wanted to add to Patrick Lynch's "blunders" from when Brad gets tackled by Mick. Brad is of course sprawled out on the floor after being leveled by the Dragon's #25 Enforcer. However, when we cut to Coach telling Chub to call timeout, Brad is suddenly standing on the sidelines directly next to the team manager (#23 jersey, left of screen). When we quick-cut to the next shot, Brad is back on the floor writhing in pain. Minor continuity error, but GREAT film anyway! And amazing Adidas product placement throughout the movie! -Thanks to B. Price
Viewers who are examining Teen Wolf with a fine-toothed comb might want to consider the scoreboard during the basketball sequences. For instance, at the BEGINNING of the Cadet's game, Scott claims the jump ball after it's tipped to him by Brad. Remember, this is the very beginning of the game. After the jump ball, Scott is IMMEDIATELY fouled/tripped by #32 from the Cadets. However, the camera shot that shows Scott on the floor after being tripped also shows the scoreboard which indicates only 1:36 remaining in the SECOND PERIOD. And although nobody's scored yet (all that's happened so far is a jump ball and a foul), the scoreboard already reads Beavers 00, Visitors 32.Next, Scott hits 1 out of 2 free throws, the Cadets inbound the ball and bring it up the court. Scott deflects the ball from #32 and several players dive onto the ball. Two things go wrong here. First, although there are 3 players from each team wrestling for possession of the loose ball, strangely enough the referee never whistles for a jump ball. Second, during the scramble we see that the scoreboard shows 1:35 remaining on the clock. Although this whole sequence (the Cadets inbounding the ball, bringing it upcourt, Scott tipping the ball away, six players jumping on the ball and wrestling for it) seems to take about 15 seconds, only 1 second has expired on the scoreboard since Scott's two free throws. All I can say is it must have been more time/trouble than it was worth to sync. up the scoreboard between each camera shoot. The hilarious dunk sequences more than make up for these scoreboard mishaps.
During the basketball scoring montage scenes, they are constantly replaying the same clip of the wolf going up for lay-ups, and then on a few of them the next frame shows him reverse dunking. -Thanks to Chris Mahar
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|  |  |  | | Teen Wolf
Locations |
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 Featured Movie Location: Teen Wolf House
Wanna see the real life filming location used for Teen Wolf House in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at A Private Residence, located in South Pasadena, S. California. [New! Show Google Map]
The same house was used for Marty’s mom’s house in 1955 in Back to the Future.
The street where Scott walks Boof home is actually Bushnell Avenue, South Pasedena -the same street we see Michael J. Fox pursues Crispin Glover down as Marty McFly in "Back to the Future" and was used in loads of 80's movies.
The part were Scott is riding on top of the van was shot going down Colorado Blvd, Pasadena.
Tony's Liquor (now the quick stop), Foothill Blvd, Tunjunga, CA (the liquor store where Stiles fails to buy beer)
The hardware store Scott's pop owned was Balk's "True Value" Hardware store at 1518 Mission Street, South Pasadena. It has since closed down.
John Burroughs Middle School in Los Angeles, California was used for most of the school sets including the classrooms. [Thanks to Robert / Rod Daniel]
Actually, John Burroughs Middle School in Los Angeles, California was used as the interior shots as opposed to John Burroughs High School in Burbank. [Thanks to Robert]
The basketball scenes were filmed at another High School just east of LAX. [Thanks to Rod Daniel]
South Pasadena Middle School (Fair Oaks Blvd. Between Rollin & Oak Streets) the basketball game scenes were shot in the schools gym. [Thanks to Christopher Cotton]
When Scott is riding a top the green truck, it is actually heading South on Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena and turns West on Mission Avenue. For a split second you can even see the Fair Oaks Avenue sign in the background, followed by Mission as he heads West.[Thanks to Pete]
Some of the locker room scenes in Teen Wolf were shot at Fremont Public High School in Fremont, Nebraska. The obvious one is in the coaches office where a "Husker Power" University of Nebraska poster can be seen on the wall in the background. The address is, 1750 N Lincoln Ave, Fremont, NE 68025. [Thanks to Irate Matt]
Other locations used allegedly include Fremont, NB.
Can you help? Do you know any of the S. California (or any other) filming locations used for Teen Wolf? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[STEREO or SURROUND]](dd2.gif) | Trailer |
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The soundtrack CD has all the pop music from the movie including 'Shootin' for the Moon' and 'Big Bad Wolf' - an early compact disc, it was released on the German Metronome Musik Label cat no. 829 029-2. It is now violently scarce.
1. Flesh on fire by James House
2. Big bad wolf by The Wolf Sisters
3. Win in the end by Mark Safan
4. Shootin' for the moon by Amy Holland
5. Silhouette by Davis Palmer
6. Way to go by Mark Vieha
7. Good news by David Morgan
8. Transformation (instrumental) by Miles Goodman
9. Boof (instrumental) by Miles Goodman
Miles Goodman, the composer of the score and several songs on the movie including, "Big Bad Wolf" and the hauntingly beautiful and closing song "Shooting for the Moon", was born on the 27th August 1949 and tragically died on August 17th, 1996, at the age of 47, from a heart attack. -Thanks to Tass Papadopoulos
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