Whodunit movies are fun, it’s a subgenre that lets you feel like a detective. These movie give you clues and you need to figure who the criminal is, but what can make them even more fun? If the culprit is not just an ordinary criminal, but a WEREWOLF!
The Undying Monster (1942)
The Undying Monster also known as The Hammond Mystery is one of the earliest werewolf movies. A mysterious monster have been threating the Hammond family for generations and a detective decides to get to the bottom of it. A film adaptation of Jessie Douglas Kerruish’s novel of the same title. It has very little werewolf action, it really is more in line with a classic murder mystery rather than a werewolf film, but it’s worth watching as it’s a strongly atmospheric one.
Werewolf in a Girls’ Dormitory (1961)
A murder happen at a girls reformatory, the suspicion falls from wolves to dogs, to teachers and caretakers. Priscilla tries to figure out who it might be, they got one lead: the attacker’s right hand is injured, but somehow in this film there’s something wrong with everyone’s right hand.
Moon of the Wolf (1972)
Another novel adaptation. It takes place in a small rural town in Louisiana. Locals find the body of a young woman and they insist it was the doing of a pack of wild dogs. Despite all the clues leading to animal attack the sheriff thinks there’s more to it. This one is real slow burn, not the fun type as the indentity of the werewolf is quite predictable and the ending is weak.
The Beast Must Die (1974)
Perhaps the most infamous werewolf whodunit is The Beast Must Die released in 1974. A rich man invites 6 guests to his estate. The surrounding area has high tech security system, so no one can leave. He is also a big game hunter, the best in the world, who has hunted very dangerous animals, but never a werewolf. So he reveals, that one of them is a werewolf and he intends to find out who and hunt them down. Before revealing the werewolf’s identity, the film pauses and introduces the 30 seconds “werewolf break” giving the audience time to guess who the werewolf is.
Silver Bullet (1985)
Based on Stephen King’s Cycle of the Werewolf, this movie doesn’t need much introduction. Takes place in the small town of Tarker’s Mills, a series of murders happen and the locals decide to hunt down the killer. Marty knows it’s a werewolf, so with the help of his sister Jane, they decide to investigate and take it down whoever it may be.
Lone Wolf (1988)
My favorite movie on the list and also one of my favorites of all time. It has a unique atmosphere, takes place during winter, it follows a group of college students trying to put an end to the murders happening on every full moon. It’s a true gem, with great music, visuals and fun characters.
Howling V: The Rebirth (1989)
Another favorite of mine. It has a very unique setting taking place in a Hungarian castle during a snow storm. A group of strangers are invited to a castle and they get picked off one by one as one of them is a werewolf. There’s no way out because of the intense snow storm. In order to survive they have to find out who the killer is. While the werewolf doesn’t appear much on screen, it’s lots of fun and gets very intense by the end.
Cursed (2005)
An infamous movie for its troubled production, but despite all that it still turned out to be a fun film and is definitely on the better half of werewolf movies. It’s about two siblings Ellie and Jimmy, they get injured by a mysterious animal and they begin to change. In order to end the curse they have to find out who is the werewolf that afflicted them and kill it.
The Beast of Bray Road (2005)
Based on actual accounts of werewolf sightings in Wisconsin, which you may have heard stories about. It’s an indie creature feature with some gnarly kills and whodunit elements. It follows a local sheriff investigating the murders of a predator that posesses DNA both man and wolf. A predator which may or may not be someone from the community.
Red Riding Hood (2011)
Not a bad movie, definitely on the better half of werewolf movies, but I never really vibed with this one. It takes place in a medieval village where everyone is a suspect of being the werewolf. It’s a reimagining of the classic fairy tale as a “dark” whodunit. Very Twilightian, it’s the same director as Twilight after all. It has some impressive visuals, very atmospheric, which makes me sad for not liking it for some reason.
Werewolf: The Beast Among Us (2012)
Another period piece and also the most action packed movie on the list. The story takes place in a 19th century village featuring a team of hunters trying to sort out the werewolf issue the village is struggling with. Nice sets and costumes give this one a strong atmosphere, perfect for a monster movie, though the tone is quite weird. It’s an R rated film with some adult themes and is quite gory at times, but at the same time it feels like a family adventure movie. You know when you see someone set a trap for a monster it’s hard not to think of Scooby-Doo.
Big Top Scooby-Doo (2012)
A classic Scooby-Doo story, everyone knows how they go. The Mystery Inc. is on vacation at Atlantic City where a werewolf is causing chaos. They have to go undercover at a travelling circus to get to the bottom of it. It’s beautifully animated and is lots of fun.
Late Phases (2014)
A blind veteran goes into retirement at a residential community, he soon finds out there’s a creature killing the residents and after it kills his beloved companion he decides to get revenge. It’s a great movie, with one of the best transformation scenes of “recent” years. It also has a really clever fake out about the werewolf’s identity aimed at people who have seen a certain werewolf movie, that’s also on this list.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
Going to a snowy small town again, this one is also a huge favorite of mine. A very fun comedic movie with great visuals and characters. A series of violent murders happen in Snow Hollow. The police investigates and concludes it must have been a wolf, some even insist it must have been a werewolf, but John doesn’t believe any of that and wants to prove the killer is a man.
Werewolves Within (2021)
Based on a social-deduction video game, it’s a horror comedy taking place in a snowy town. In veins it’s very similar to Howling V, but the setting is less isolated and is much more comedic. It follows a forest ranger who was assigned to a small town, where all the residents have quite the character. Amongst them is a werewolf who they have to unveil while working together or perhaps against each other.
Family Pack (2024)
Family Pack is a french comedy, it’s similar to Jumanji, where a board game comes to life. It’s based on the card game The Werewolves of Millers Hollow. The family gets sent back in time to a medieval village, in order to return they must win the game and the only way to do that is by unmasking the werewolves.
Only Seven Days
This is an upcoming movie starring Michael Paré. It will follow a group of people trapped beneath a museum, as the moonstone gets stolen, they realize one of them is a werewolf and they only got seven days till the next full moon…
