The character of the werewolf was first adopted on film in “Werewolf of London” in 1935 (although most of us are more familiar with “The Wolf Man” in 1941 starring Claude Rains and Lon Chaney Jr.). Since then Hollywood has tried again and again to bring this character back to life in cinema. Some incarnations have been relatively humorous (“Teen Wolf”, “The Monster Squad”), others have been dramatic (“Wolf” starring Jack Nicholson), and some have gone the flat-out horror route (e.g. “Ginger Snaps”, “American Werewolf in London”, “Dog Soldiers”). They have even tried to pair their beast with other mythical creatures of the night like vampires (for example the “Underworld” series). The duo of vampire and werewolf is the most common shown in cinema, and there is a reason why people flock to movies that feature these two characters.

The differences between these two beings are more than just surface. If you were to examine the relationship between vampire and werewolf a little more closely you would find that the vampire, with their decadent lifestyles and their immortal beauty appeal to the super-ego in all of us while the werewolf, with its animalistic nature, unhinged ravenous hunger and strength are closer to the human id. Vampires stay cloistered away from normal society. They are snobs, beholden only to themselves and their own kind. They strive to acquire wealth and other objects of beauty. They desire to be forever young, and are ruthless in their pursuit of those who do not share their thirst for life (both literally and figuratively).

Werewolves on the other hand are creatures of constant change. Every full moon they become uninhibited creatures of the night that prowl and hunt unafraid of the consequences of their actions. Only when they’ve turned back to their human form do they recant what they’ve done under the influence of their animal nature. The werewolf does as it pleases and lives for the moment. It uses its strength and cunning to achieve their goals rather than relying upon subterfuge and guile like a vampire.

Vampires are soul-less beings who are no longer considered to be living. Their pain traps them and makes them brooding characters who lust for love and contact with their lost humanity. Werewolves are the epitome of living. Their howl pierces the night signifying their hunger and lust for life. A vampire might suck the life-force from your body, but a werewolf will dominate, devour, and ravage your body. A vampire is depicted as sexy, using the trickery of their gifts to confuse their prey to do their bidding (somewhat like an ethereal roofy). A werewolf takes what it wants without cajoling or discussion.

While both are creatures of the night, they both signify different feelings and aspects of human life. One is carnal and elegant, the other savage, vicious, and relentless. One has all the time in the world to watch the living while the other lives for the brief moments when their pulse races and they lose control of themselves. It’s obvious why people have been captivated for more than 50 years by these two cinematic heavy-hitters. They represent different sides of people. Neither character is portrayed as all good or all bad, but conflicted, in pain, and wanting…Just like us.