noun ly·can·thro·py \lī-ˈkan(t)-thrə-pē\
1: a delusion that one has become a wolf
2: the assumption of the form and characteristics of a wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic
Werewolves have permeated pop culture for centuries, including heavily influencing Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula. In fact, the term lycanthropy was coined in the 16th century. According to BBC, next month for three days starting on September 3, an actual conference devoted to the lore and lure of the werewolf will take place at the University of Hertfordshire, thanks to organizers, The Company of Wolves.
Experts in the field will gather for lectures that include such topics as; Rabid Bitches and Fanged Whores, I'm Hairy on the Inside and Barebacking Werewolves in Rural America. Sign me up! Better yet? Conference attendees "will be able to walk with (real) wolves, eat Red Riding Hood biscuits and picnic beside the Berkhamsted churchyard where the 18th Century remains of 'Peter the Wildboy' lie."
The organizers take this subject very seriously and relay why this is an important event. According to Dr. Sam George, "People have been fascinated by human-to-wolf transformations down the years, especially in film. Many remember Lon Chaney in Wolf Man or the cult classic An American Werewolf in London, which brought werewolves to contemporary audiences. But how many people actually know the different ways that you can become a werewolf according to folklore or that there were actually werewolf trials in France and Germany where people were hanged and found guilty of lycanthropy? At the conference we want to draw attention to these little-known facts and discuss the werewolf in all its many manifestations and cultural meanings."
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(
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sure is looking good. What big eyes and full lips she has – the kind that drives wolves mad; she’s everything a big, bad wolf could want.
) little 
during Medieval times. For decades Daggerhornites (Daggerhornies?) kept truce with a werewolf by setting out cute little piggies and other livestock each full moon for a lunar snack. The stakes change when Big Bad kills the older sis of Valerie (Seyfried), the prettiest gal in town, who is arranged to marry the wealthy blacksmith’s kind son Henry (
).
in Tim Curry’s Cardinal Richelieu outfit and haircut/goatee from 
) arrives to spread some religion and reveal the wolf is one of the villagers, hiding in human form. After an extended pre-bacchanal celebration that recalls the rave scene from 
, which includes a little 
girl-girl dirty dance sequence to tease Peter, Valerie learns she has a special connection to the wolf.
– with Solomon playing the role of 
, the film is a direct descendant of Stephenie Meyer’s saga, right down to Bella-esque heroine, transformation existing only one bite/deflowering away, and a battle between two boys (the lovable but not loved Henry as Jacob, and romantic bad boy Peter filling in for Edward) willing to set aside differences for their love. And who plays Valerie’s pop but Billy Burke, the same actor who fathered Kristen Stewart’s Bella in the Twilight franchise.
has built his career around. Even the set design is reminiscent of a jacked-up version of the tree houses from another hood movie - 
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), Michael Hogan (
), Michael Shanks (
) and Lukas Haas (
) in supporting roles, but their talents are wasted here. Also, the movie’s one original “twist” plays as unintentionally creepy.
hits, my what big box office receipts this movie will have.
and 
mysteries.
fans may get a kick out of this vampires vs. werewolves storyline.
or 
.
about the three cohabitating supers, I connected to the onscreen monsters.