Welcome back, ghouls and ghosts, to the third annual installment of SpookyJawn! It’s our horror takeover of MovieJawn, and this year we are wall to wall with monsters!

by Nikk Nelson, Staff Writer, Cinematic Maniac

I originally set out to do a piece on international werewolf movies. I’ve been such a fan of the genre for so long and after a recent viewing of Wolf Guy (1975) starring Sonny Chiba, I realized I wanted to see more from other countries. As I started that research, I ran into a great article from /Film that more or less did everything I would hope to do: The Best Werewolf Movies You've Never Seen (slashfilm.com). In light of that, I pivoted to what I feel like I do best—the obscure, the forgotten gems, and the so bad it’s good. I curated a nice “Versus” triple feature. Let’s have some fun.

The Werewolf Versus the Vampire Woman (1971)—Starring Paul Naschy, Streaming on Tubi

Plot, Pun Intended because Graveyards: Two country doctors accidentally revive a werewolf. Two college students accidentally revive a medieval vampire countess. Slow motion horror ensues.

Why I Loved It: It opens in almost pitch darkness. It adds an obscure piece of werewolf lore that I hadn’t seen in other films—if you remove the silver bullets from a dead werewolf, it’ll be brought back to life.

Stay For: The opening score. Really cool psychedelic dissolves.  All the moments I thought Paul Naschy looked like John Belushi.

To Keep it Going: Check out Paul Naschy’s film history. He was a Spanish horror icon. Actor, writer, director. This movie also got me in the mood to watch Anna Biller movies.

Santo and Blue Demon vs. Dracula and the Wolf Man (1973)—Starring Santo, Streaming on Tubi

Plot, Pun Intended Because Graveyards: Two luchadores (Mexican professional wrestlers) versus the undead. Sign. Me. Up.

Why I Loved It: The opening credits. The opening scene is practically an entire wrestling match in real time. Feels like a 1960’s Batman TV episode.

Stay For: The most well-dressed/coifed werewolf you have ever seen. And his name is Rufus.

To Keep it Going: There is an entire series of El Santo and/or Santo and Blue Demon movies and I find everything about it really fascinating. El Santo was/is so popular in Mexico, they are considered a folk hero.

Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf (2015)—Starring Casper Van Dien, Streaming on Freevee

Plot, Pun Intended because Graveyards: Um, yes?

Why I Loved It: It’s everything you want it to be—the music, the acting, the vfx.

Stay For: Casper Van Dien’s performance as the drunk, surly boat captain. Some genuinely funny moments. The thought that in an alternate universe, Casper Van Dien played Aragorn in Lord of the Rings—but maybe that’s just me.

To Keep it Going: Any other movie in the Sharknado (2013) vein.