If you’re one of our younger readers, you may be surprised to find this review has nothing to do with the CW series. Instead, it hearkens back to the ‘80s with a pair of films that not only laid the seeds for the future teen-drama, but also helped kick off the cinematic career of its two leads in Michael J. Fox and Jason Bateman. Fans of these films will be howling with joy at the news that Shout Factory horror arm Scream Factory is re-releasing them on home video, with a brand new 2K restoration and host of extras.
TEEN WOLF Synopsis
Like all teenagers, Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox, the Back To The Future trilogy) is going through some … changes. But unlike the rest of the students at Beacontown High School, Scott’s changes include long hair that covers his entire body, claw-like fingernails, fangs, a heightened sense of smell, superhuman strength and the extraordinary ability to … play basketball? And that’s just the beginning.
Naturally, these uncanny new features turn this lovable loser into the most popular kid in school. But by embracing his newly minted popularity, has the Teen Wolf lost sight of what it truly means to be Scott Howard?
This is where it all began — not just for the Teen Wolf legacy, but together with Back to the Future in 1985, marking a one two punch of films signalling the breakout talents of Michael J. Fox on the big screen. Like that other movie, much of the success of Teen Wolf rests on the innate energy and joy of its lead, a relatable and warm soul who helps sell the far fetched and often cheesy premise.
Adolescence, with the travails of growing up, is a popular theme in cinema, not just the horror genre. But it lends itself to similar themes across genres: emotional and physical changes, societal stresses, and judgment. In this fashion, Teen Wolf represents a lighter and comedic-based offering at the other end of the spectrum from darker, more disturbing fare like Ginger Snaps. Werewolf-ism and puberty: they both lead to teen drama, don’t they? Rather than a horror angle, it’s a tale of a nerd connecting with his inner cool and accepting his legacy, after discovering his transformative tendencies are passed on through his family. Using his new abilities, he’s soon a basketball star and the life and soul of the party — one of the coolest kids in school, albeit a very hairy one. It’s a goofy premise, sure, not least in how accepting his classmates are of a werewolf in their midst, but one milked for entertainment to great effect.
The Package
The release features a brand new 2K scan from the original interpositive. The results are impressive. Colors pop with natural hues, detail is top notch, and even the lines where the latex prosthetics meet Fox’s face are sometimes evident. The case cover slip is reversible, allowing for owners to flip and use the original artwork. The release is on a single disc containing the film and a number of special features:
- Never. Say. Die. The Story Of Teen Wolf — A Comprehensive Documentary About The Making And Legacy Of The Film: Running 143 minutes, this is a lengthy featurette, composed of 10 segments. Interviews with cast and crew, touching on the script, music and costumes, makeup, and themes of the film. It’s a great extra but one that sorely misses having Fox involved.
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Still Gallery: Behind the scenes and artwork images.
TEEN WOLF TOO Synopsis
Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) stars as Todd Howard, a Hamilton University freshman with a full athletic scholarship — only Todd has no idea why, since he’s far more interested in veterinary medicine than sports. But his boxing coach, Bobby Finstock, is very familiar with the Howard family secret and he’s hoping he can use it to his advantage. When the whole school — including Todd — finds out that he’s a werewolf with superhuman abilities, Todd’s popularity skyrockets and he becomes the big wolf on campus.
But is his fame a gift? Or a curse? And can he keep it from getting in the way of the relationships he has with his best friends and girlfriend? Perhaps a little guidance from his professor (Kim Darby, True Grit), who has a secret of her own, may help Todd learn the biggest lesson of all.
The curse of the sequel. Second films are laden with the responsibility of matching, or topping the original, and perhaps improving on it. Teen Wolf Too was already hamstrung through the loss of Fox, reluctant to return for a sequel and perhaps the main reason the first film had such appeal. The film suffered greatly for a second reason: it offered little new.
The sequel switches the action to college instead of high school, but this, and much else of the film, are merely superficial changes. Actors and events are switched out, but much of the plot remains the same, just boxing instead of basketball. This time we’re following Todd Howard (Bateman), the cousin of Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox), in his transition from nerd to cool kid. It’s a rough ride in comparison to the first, as clunky song and dance numbers underline how devoid of fresh ideas the filmmakers were. Perhaps the only real saving grace is we get a introduction to Jason Bateman, who hones his early talents for acerbic humor for later work in Arrested Development, Bad Words, and Zootopia.
The Package
While the 2K transfer here doesn’t seen as crisp as the first film, it’s still solid. Detail and color impress, it just seems a little fuzzy in brighter sequences. Like the first, the cover is reversible, and the disc contains a number of special features:
- Working With The Wolf — An Interview With Director Christopher Leitch: How the sequel came to be and dealt with the absence of Fox.
- Otherworldly — An Interview With Co-star Kim Darby
- A Man of Great ‘Stiles’ — An Interview With Co-star Stuart Fratkin: Something of a scene stealer — the actor talks about his approach.
- Nerdy Girl Saves the Day — An Interview With Co-star Estee Chandler
- A Wolf In ‘80s Clothing — A Look At The Wardrobe Of Teen Wolf Too With Costume Designer Heidi Kaczenski
- Still Gallery
Overall, this film has more variety than Teen Wolf, rather than more depth. Jason Bateman is conspicuous by his absence in any of the features, sadly.
The Bottom Line
Teen Wolf retains its charm. Sure it’s dated, but the charms of Michael J. Fox carry it through. Teen Wolf Too remains something of a muddled step too far, lacking what made the original so refreshing. Completists will no doubt be happy to have the pair available. Both are served by a high quality new transfer by Scream Factory, supported by a number of great extras.
Teen Wolf is available via Scream Factory from August 8th.
Teen Wolf Too is also available via Scream Factory from August 8th.