Though they probably can't be described as 'good' films as such, I love the 'Hombre Lobo' films with Spanish Horror legend Paul Naschy, of whom I am a big fan. Naschy, who has penned many of his films himself, has so far played Werewolf Waldemar Daninsky in thirteen films (between 1968 and 2004) and I sure hope that he will reprise the role in the future. "El Retorno Del Hombre-Lobo" aka. "Night of the Werewolf" (1981) is certainly one of the better entries to the series, which can be attributed to a creepy atmosphere, a fast pace, a cool score and the presence of two Horror-favorites: Waldemar Daninsky (of course), and Countess Elisabeth Bathory. The 16th century Hungarian Countess was sentenced as a sadistic serial murderer of girls in real-life, and has since been the villainess of dozens of Horror films including three of the Waldemar Daninsky films ("La Noche De Walpurgis" of 1971, "El Retorno De Walpurgis" of 1973 and this one).
This film also begins with the sentencing of Countess Bathory who has been tried for sorcery, devil-worshiping, murder and vampirism. The countess is sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, her servants are to be executed. Her henchman Waldemar Daninsky, whom she has bewitched into becoming a werewolf, has an iron mask nailed on his face and a dagger stabbed into his heart. Centuries later, three beautiful female University students travel to the Carpathian mountains to awake the Blood-Countess from the dead at her final resting place. Needless to say that Waldemar Daninsky has already been brought back to life by careless grave-robbers...
The storyline is more or less similar in all Waldemar Daninsky films, but it is always presented a little different and, at least in my humble opinion, with highly entertaining results. Naschy is awesome as always in this film, the female cast is yummy (though there is little nudity) and the style of the film is really cool. Julia Saly, who also was in a few other Naschy films including "Latidos De Panico" ("Panic Beats", 1983), as well as in "La Noche De Las Gaviotas" (1975, the Fourth and Last of the "Blind Dead" films), fits very well in the role of the evil countess. The cinematography is nicely done and the castle setting in the Carpathian mountains is creepy. The score is very good (though it sometimes seems a little out of place for a Gothic Horror film like this), at some points it was clearly inspired by the Harmonica-theme in Sergio Leone'S masterpiece "Once Upon a Time in the West". Overall, this is yet another creepy and vastly entertaining Waldemar Daninsky film. Paul Naschy simply has to be worshiped. May he live to 150 years and make at least thirteen more Hombre-Lobo films!
This film also begins with the sentencing of Countess Bathory who has been tried for sorcery, devil-worshiping, murder and vampirism. The countess is sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, her servants are to be executed. Her henchman Waldemar Daninsky, whom she has bewitched into becoming a werewolf, has an iron mask nailed on his face and a dagger stabbed into his heart. Centuries later, three beautiful female University students travel to the Carpathian mountains to awake the Blood-Countess from the dead at her final resting place. Needless to say that Waldemar Daninsky has already been brought back to life by careless grave-robbers...
The storyline is more or less similar in all Waldemar Daninsky films, but it is always presented a little different and, at least in my humble opinion, with highly entertaining results. Naschy is awesome as always in this film, the female cast is yummy (though there is little nudity) and the style of the film is really cool. Julia Saly, who also was in a few other Naschy films including "Latidos De Panico" ("Panic Beats", 1983), as well as in "La Noche De Las Gaviotas" (1975, the Fourth and Last of the "Blind Dead" films), fits very well in the role of the evil countess. The cinematography is nicely done and the castle setting in the Carpathian mountains is creepy. The score is very good (though it sometimes seems a little out of place for a Gothic Horror film like this), at some points it was clearly inspired by the Harmonica-theme in Sergio Leone'S masterpiece "Once Upon a Time in the West". Overall, this is yet another creepy and vastly entertaining Waldemar Daninsky film. Paul Naschy simply has to be worshiped. May he live to 150 years and make at least thirteen more Hombre-Lobo films!