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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
"The Craving", now available on DVD!, 11 May 2007
7/10
Author: TheatreX from Louisville, KY

I bought two copies of the new DVD of The Craving (AKA Return of the Wolf Man, AKA Night of the Werewolf, and probably AKA lots of other things too). I have friends that saw this on their very first date at the drive-in and it holds a special place in their memories. To some this may seem rather horrific right there, but I think it's kind of sweet. Ack. Anyway, one copy is for them so they can pull their car into the living room and watch it and relive their first date.

I've had this on VHS for years and while I do like the films of Paul Naschy, or Jacinto Molina, none of them could exactly be called "good", really. But he was apparently the first one that had the cojones to be putting stuff like this out in Spain under Franco's rule (Francisco Franco, not Jess Franco, for those of you that don't know their history). So because of that, I find his films rather unique and special. True, they are not the greatest but most have a certain charm or SOMETHING to them that makes them work for me. The Craving on DVD, mastered in high definition, may sound like strapping an outboard motor on a raft to some, but this is also uncut & it IS beautifully remastered, not like the usual Brentwood BCI output. They seem to be moving forward in technology. So what was formerly somewhat murky and choppy now has a new look and possibly even less disconnect. The story, such as it is, involves Waldemar Daninsky (Naschy) being executed along with his mistress, Countess Bathory, and thanks to grave robbers in modern times he's brought back to life, along with all his pals, to raise hell once again. It's basically vampires versus werewolves in a showdown at a big castle. Nashy's werewolf makes its usual sloppy saliva sounds which were probably assisted by big plastic teeth, and the transformation effects are still somewhat laughable, but overall this looks great now and has more of the story intact, it seems. Or more of the scenes,to be more accurate. Or so I'm guessing, anyway. Not bad, one can only hope more of Naschy/Molina's stuff will be made available in a decent, watchable format in the future. 7 out of 10.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Growing up under Franco, Paul Naschy probably knew all about horror., 24 December 2005
6/10
Author: Lee Eisenberg (eisenberg.lee@gmail.com) from Portland, Oregon, USA

In "El Retorno del Hombre-Lobo" (called "The Craving" in English), Paul Naschy returns as his most famous character, werewolf Waldemar Daninsky. This time, he gets executed along with alleged vampire Countess Elizabeth Bathory (Julia Saly). But, as always seems to happen in horror flicks, they both get resurrected and go on a rampage. Specifically, they get resurrected by hot students Erika, Karen and Barbara. In fact, Daninsky turns against Bathory. You can probably guess what happens from there.

If you watch any of the DVDs of Paul Naschy's movies, the special features include an interview with him about his life. He talks some about growing up under Franco. One gets the feeling that he knew first-hand about horror, far more than a werewolf movie could portray. But no matter; this movie will surely please Naschy's fans.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
The Craving (1980) **1/2, 14 July 2005
7/10
Author: MARIO GAUCI (marrod@melita.com) from Naxxar, Malta

THE CRAVING is possibly the most satisfying (if still flawed) Paul Naschy film I've watched so far: the fact that Waldemar Daninsky here originates from the Middle Ages gives the character a true mythic quality which is not possible with his usual modern-day persona; besides, his medieval 'wardrobe' (beard, coat-of-arms, crossbow and, briefly, an iron mask) is pretty cool - as is the vicious werewolf look which Naschy comes up with for this one, certainly the creepiest of his that I've seen...though, ironically enough, it doesn't see a lot of action (still, I guess, there's really so much can be done differently from one film to the next). The atmosphere (fog, candlelight, color gels) is really laid on thick here and the score, too, is pretty varied for this type of film (I even liked the rock theme heard during the opening and closing credits).

What prevents THE CRAVING from getting a *** rating from me, which would make it a solid and good picture, is a rather muddled storyline (though still the most interesting yet penned by Naschy): when the film opens, Waldemar is supposed to be Elizabeth Bathory's lieutenant but when they are revived centuries later, he is somehow hellbent on destroying her (and the army of women - there's a plethora of female characters here but, alas, very little nudity - which she manages to vampirize)!; the evil Erika, well-versed in the occult and who has no qualms about murdering her mentor, and later sacrifice her best friend in order to restore the vampire lady whom she idolizes, is set up initially as a quite formidable villain - even seducing Waldemar when a vampire - but her role gradually deteriorates to nothing, apparently so as to allow the Bathory character to take center-stage for the climactic duel between the werewolf and his arch-nemesis. Unfortunately, this sequence comes off as anti-climactic because one can hardly discern anything that's going on: either the print is too dark or it was simply filmed that way; however, the ending of this one is really bleak as Waldemar's love interest, already on her way to becoming a vampire, is infected with the curse of the werewolf as well(!) but she is quick to bring the house down in a conflagration which decimates the evil pervading the entire manor...

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5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Not as bad as might at first appear, 15 October 2004
6/10
Author: funkyfry from Oakland CA

This is the type of movie where most audiences will just laugh at the film, especially in that it is mostly dated, but people who have seen some really bad movies of this type (like me) will realize that there are actually some good things here.

The lighting and photography are generally speaking very good. There are some good mist effects and lighting effects that use the smoke and colors to create a good spooky effect a la Mario Bava.

The makeup is also quite well done for its time.

The story is the usual cr*p about vampires coming back to life, but it's kind of interesting that they threw the werewolf into it and made him sort of the good guy.

Also a lot of decent gore here for fans of that type of thing.

All in all, a film that should amuse those looking for a "golden turkey" but will also delight those who appreciate good European horror.

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3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
a good vampires vs. warewolves movie, 6 May 2003
5/10
Author: lthseldy1 from Norfolk, VA

I liked this movie, although I enjoy most of Paul Nashys movies anyway I found this one special. I starts at the beginning when Countess Bathory and Nashy who is accused as a warewolf are being executed only to be brought back to life 400 years later. I liked the switch with the vampire going after the warewolf and each being enemies instead of alies with eachother. I could do without the terrible love scenes of Nashy and his lady who falls in love with him only to be bitten by the vampire and bitten by Nashy. It's worth a look, but it's not a classic.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Above average entry into the Homo-Lobo series, 5 July 2009
7/10
Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

I have to admit that I'm not a very big fan of Paul Naschy's "Homo-Lobo" series of films, and have disliked most of the ones I've seen. This one, however, was rather good. The film is set apart somewhat from the rest of the series because of the fact that lead star Paul Naschy also directed the film. The film was made in the early eighties; but Naschy retains the seventies feel of the previous films in the series and this one doesn't feel out of place with the rest of them, although the central character is slightly different as this time he originates from the middle ages. The film kicks off with a scene that sees Naschy's character Waldemar Daninsky and Countess Elizabeth Bathory, executed. We then fast forward a few hundred years and focus on a woman into black magic that wants to rejuvenate Elizabeth Bathory. However, upon reaching the resting place with her friends; she discovers Daninsky already awakened. She proceeds with her mission anyway, and ends up bringing the Countess (apparently a vampire) back to life.

The film could basically be summed up as 'werewolf vs vampires', as that is effectively what it turns into. I really do like Naschy's decision to feature the infamous Countess in the film; although he has been a bit liberal with the way she is used in the story. The style of the film is really great; the cinematography is interesting and the use of music is good; although slightly odd, it must be said. It does also have to be said that the film is more than just a little bit uneven; some of the set pieces are brilliant and really well worked, while other moments of the film are turgid and rather boring. The film also gets a bit sluggish towards the end and it seems like Naschy might have ran out of paper to write his script on as the final third contains hardly any dialogue. The werewolf effects are rather poor also; especially when you consider that An American Werewolf in London and The Howling were released in the same year. The film is slightly disappointing overall because with better handling it could have been really great...but even so, Night of the Werewolf is still worth a look.

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Werewolf vs Vampire Women, 12 May 2007
8/10
Author: Leroy Gomm from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The Night Of The Werewolf aka El Retorno Del Hombre Lobo aka The Craving is a revamped update on Paul Naschy's original film, Werewolf vs Vampire Woman.

The film is a visual feast for Gothic horror fans. It's most memorable scene takes it's inspiration from the resurrection shown in Dracula Prince Of Darkness , while rendering it in a seductive if slightly misogynistic fashion. It's opening credit scene is reminiscent of Black Sunday, as an iron mask is used as a means of torture. And so it goes, until the climactic battle with Elizabeth Bathory herself.

Horror fans that have found their way into the world of Naschy's Waldamar Daninski already know that they have ventured so far into the genre that there is no turning back. You can throw plot and logic out the window, it's really not what matters here. The eccentric Daninski is a Wolf Man chick magnet displaced out of time who is in an eternal struggle with the blood Countess Bathory, the stuff of Warren's old Creepy, Eerie, and Vampirella comic books genuinely realized on screen. While at times some scenes begin to slow with romantic interludes it never takes long for something interesting and horrific to happen.

Very much a throwback to 60's Gothic Euro and Hammer horrors, The Night of The Werewolf might still delight the more modern fan with it's pounds of flesh tearing, buckets of bloodletting, and it's sexy vixen vampires.

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
This is "the werewolf vs the vampire woman" # 2 ..., 16 August 2005
6/10
Author: Noel (Werewolf-Moviesdotcom) from Bromsgrove, England

Ah, the first Daninsky movie of the eighties ... here I refer to Midnight Video's version entitled "Night of the Werewolf", which is pretty good quality but has annoying non-removable subtitles.

When a movie opens with a bunch of satanists being sentenced to gruesome deaths including buried alive, tortured, hanged, beheaded, and so forth ... you know you must be in for good, clean B-movie horror. The chief witch in question of course swears a terrible revenge (haven't we already been here in Molina's "Curse of the Devil"?), and among the condemned is the werewolf Waldemar Daninsky himself, sporting a rather stylish beard. He gets off comparatively lightly, being made to wear an iron mask and having a silver dagger driven through his heart. Centuries later, an evil witch finds a medallion in order to resurrect the ancient chief witch, and as fate would have it a couple of grave-robbers remove the dagger of Daninsky's heart at exactly the same moment. Time for a "Werewolf vs the Vampire Woman" rematch ...

Jacinto Molina opted to direct this one himself, as well as the two other Daninsky movies made in the eighties. This means he has more control over the project than ever before, and contrary to what some say, I think he's actually a very good director. Probably the best ever to direct a Daninsky movie, anyway, and obviously he can capture his own artistic vision like nobody else could. This is probably why it feels more conventional and competent than most movies in the series. The sets are great, the special effects are good for it's time and the whole movie has a fantastic atmosphere to it. There is more gratuitous nudity and gore than in most Daninsky movies, and I'm surprised it hasn't been a bigger hit with fans of the genre. There are certainly enough werewolves, witches, vampires, zombies and horrible sacrifices to keep them entertained! Maybe I'm going overboard with the praise, but if you've seen the earlier Daninsky movies, you'll know that in most ways this is pretty damn good comparatively. The dubbing is actually pretty good (although dubbing is always a crime, of course), and they've tried to make the dialogue as hip as possible. Man, I just love the eighties mentality. The soundtrack is also very cool. Okay, okay, so the storyline is pretty much the same predictable stuff all over again. And once again it has no real consistency with the previous movies. But that's why we love it! Obviously it's not an easy movie to watch, it's arguably slow and there's some particularly dark stuff going on even for a Daninsky movie. Daninsky himself is something of an anti-hero, saving maidens in distress but also allowing his wolf side to run around slaughtering innocents. The vampires are very creepy and unearthly, as Molina has always been good at knowing how to portray them.

"El Retorno del Hombre-Lobo", "The Craving", "Night of the Werewolf" ... call it what you like, this is my favourite Daninsky movie yet. It's "The Werewolf vs the Vampire Woman" as it should have been, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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Waldemar Daninsky and Countess Bathory, Vampirism and Black Magic... Oh My!, 5 September 2009
7/10
Author: Benjamin Gauss from Salzburg, Austria

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!

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Werewolves do not exist. They do not exist!, 24 July 2009
7/10
Author: lastliberal from Florida

This is the 9th of 13 films in the Hombre Lobo series featuring the eternally cursed Waldemar Daninsky played by Paul Naschy. His work will soon be much more well known as Fangoria is releasing Werewolf, a brand new, fully painted series of graphic novels based on the film series and its title character.

Vampires versus werewolves. The vampire, Elisabeth Bathory (Julia Saly) controls the werewolf Waldemar Daninsky (Paul Naschy) until they are executed in the 18th century. Two grave robbers (Ricardo Palacios & Rafael Hernández) remove the silver cross from Waldemar and he comes alive, free of the Countess.

Meanwhile, three women (Silvia Aguilar, Azucena Hernández & Pilar Alcón) are searching for the Countess' grave.

While Erika (Aguilar) and Barbara (Alcón) are preparing to revive the Countess, Karen (Hernández) is falling in love with Waldemar. He needs her to kill him to remove his curse.

Erika even sacrifices her friend in the ritual to gain power. Meanwhile, Waldemar is heavily snacking as it is a full moon.

The Countess even manges to use Waldemar's servant Mircalla (Beatriz Elorrieta) to attack him, but Karen is right there to save the day. Too bad, he wasn't there for her.

The next full moon brings forth the battle. Rock breaks scissors, and paper covers rock, and all is well.

Good acting, and a high quality DVD.

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