From Silver Screen to Art Gallery: Paint the Werewolf of London

In the world of pop culture, certain creations have a timeless quality that keeps them howling through the decades. Werewolves of London is one such iconic entity, a name that conjures images of moonlit transformations and catchy tunes. In this post, we embark on a journey through the cinematic, musical, and pictorial realms of Werewolves of London, exploring the 1935 movie, the legendary song released by Warren Zevon in 1978, and what visual artists have done with the classic lore. We even look at the film, American Werewolf in London that inspires similar iconography.

vintage movie poster of 1935 film werewolves of london

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We have created our own Werewolf of London painting. The video demonstration tutorial is available below and the downloadable outline and reference image is available here:

The tale of "Werewolves of London" began on the silver screen with the 1935 horror film, Werewolf of London. Directed by Stuart Walker, this classic horror movie was one of the earliest cinematic portrayals of a lycanthropic transformation. The movie's protagonist, Dr. Wilfred Glendon, is a botanist who journeys to Tibet and, after being bitten by a strange creature, becomes a werewolf when the moon is full. Werewolf of London laid the foundation for the portrayal of werewolves in film and inspired countless later works in the genre.

film image of werewolf in suit in werewolves of london film

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Fast forward to the late 1970s, and a different kind of "Werewolves of London" emerged, this time in the form of a rock song. Warren Zevon's eponymous song, Werewolves of London was released on his critically acclaimed album Excitable Boy in 1978. This song quickly became a rock and roll classic, known for its infectious melody and catchy lyrics. With references to the London streets and a howling refrain, Zevon's song was a different, more playful take on the werewolf mythos.

warren zevon poster image werewolves of london

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American Werewolf in London is a classic horror-comedy film directed by John Landis and released in 1981. The movie follows the story of two American tourists who are attacked by a werewolf while backpacking through the English countryside. One of them dies, but the other survives and undergoes a gruesome transformation into a werewolf. There is no direct connection between An American Werewolf in London and any previous film titled The Werewolves of London. The title simply refers to the setting of the film, where the main character becomes a werewolf while in London, and it is known for its unique take on the werewolf horror genre.

Contemporary artists have played with some of these ideas pictorially. Here are some examples: