Teen Wolf (1985)
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A high school basketball player's life takes a supernatural turn when he discovers he is a werewolf.
The story
Scott Howard is a 17-year-old high school student in Beacontown, Nebraska, whose only claim to popularity is playing for the Beavers, his school's unsuccessful basketball team. While fawning over a girl named Pamela Wells, Scott experiences strange physical changes, including growing heavy body hair. After a night out with friends, he accidentally claws his friend Boof and returns home to find he has transformed into a werewolf. His father, Harold, reveals that the transformation is the result of a family curse. Scott must navigate his new identity while trying to manage his social life and his role on the team.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Scott Howard, a high school student in Beacontown, Nebraska, is a basketball player for the Beavers who longs for the attention of Pamela Wells. After transforming into a werewolf following an accident with his friend Boof, Scott learns from his father, Harold, that the condition is a family curse. Scott reveals his secret to his friend Stiles, and eventually uses his werewolf agility and strength to lead the Beavers to their first win in three years, sparking 'Wolf Fever' at the school. However, Scott faces alienation from friends and resentment from teammates who feel he hogs the ball. While Stiles markets 'Teen Wolf' merchandise, Scott finds success with Pamela in a school play but eventually learns she isn't interested in a relationship. After a series of conflicts involving his father's past and a confrontation with vice principal Rusty Thorne, Scott decides to renounce his wolf powers. During the championship game, he rallies his team to face the dominant Dragons. After being fouled by his rival Mick at the buzzer, Scott makes the winning free throws. He ultimately chooses to be himself, kissing Boof as his father embraces them both, while Pamela leaves with Mick.
- First release year
- 1985
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rod Daniel
- Writers
- Jeph Loeb · writer; Matthew Weisman · writer
- Cast and characters
- Michael J. Fox · Scott Howard; James Hampton · Harold Howard; Scott Paulin; Susan Ursitti; Jerry Levine; Jay Tarses
- Genres
- coming-of-age comedy; fantasy comedy
- Themes
- coming-of-age; identity; puberty
- Tone and mood
- comedy; fantasy
- Premise and plot tags
- high school; werewolf; basketball; supernatural
- Franchise connections
- Teen Wolf
- Content notes
- sex
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing over $80 million worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 46% · review count: 35; Metacritic · score: 25 · scale: 100 · review count: 5
- Production trivia
- The beaver mascot logo used in the film was the Oregon State University Beavers logo.; The film was one of the first scripts written by Jeph Loeb.; The production was delayed because Michael J. Fox's co-star Meredith Baxter-Birney became pregnant.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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