In the evolution of Italian horror film, «Lycanthropus» is an effective, low budget and unpretentious early drama from 1961, which is more a whodunit than a straight werewolf movie. Carl Schell stars as a London physician with a secret that is hired as a teacher in an almost open-door reform school for young female delinquents, sponsored by a rich man, played by Maurice Marsac (I think this is the first time I have seen Marsac developing a full character in a leading role).
The school has two big problems: clandestine sex (which is largely absent from the movie) and a werewolf. A young inmate is having sex with the sponsor to obtain her freedom, but he is a liar and unable to help her, so she is blackmailing him. Then she is suddenly attacked and killed by the werewolf, and suspicion of the victim's best friend Brunhilde (Barbara Lass) and the strange behavior of all the personnel in the center lead the situation to the verge of a scandal.
So, more deaths continue, and everything turns really ugly. Identities and secrets are revealed, little scientific dialogues about lycanthropy are conducted, the solution is fast and final, and more gothic horror movies were ready for release. If you do not pretend this is «Psycho», enjoy it, it is fun.
The school has two big problems: clandestine sex (which is largely absent from the movie) and a werewolf. A young inmate is having sex with the sponsor to obtain her freedom, but he is a liar and unable to help her, so she is blackmailing him. Then she is suddenly attacked and killed by the werewolf, and suspicion of the victim's best friend Brunhilde (Barbara Lass) and the strange behavior of all the personnel in the center lead the situation to the verge of a scandal.
So, more deaths continue, and everything turns really ugly. Identities and secrets are revealed, little scientific dialogues about lycanthropy are conducted, the solution is fast and final, and more gothic horror movies were ready for release. If you do not pretend this is «Psycho», enjoy it, it is fun.