Supernatural elements have always fascinated me. Whenever I face writer’s block, horror genre gives me the boost to come out with an interesting tale on the darker side of nature which is filled with spirits, apparitions, witches, vampires and shape shifting creatures like Werewolves. Do werewolves exist is really a subject of mystery and debate. It is been said that Werewolves existed in age of mythology. The Yakshas in mythology time had the power to transform themselves into beasts. Though today’s scientific thinkers reject mythology and supernatural elements, there have been instances where people have witnessed the existence of Werewolves in India and other countries.
The recent movie: Bhediya (2022) gives you a horrifying glimpse at the existence of lycans or werewolves in India. Once you are bitten by a werewolf, you are cursed to transform into a werewolf on a full moon night. The howl of a wolf heard in night is indication of its arrival. Author C.A. Kincaid’s short story: The Werewolf is a thrilling adventure plot revolving two British officers who are attacked by a werewolf in India. The person who transforms into a werewolf in the short story is a ‘Khansama’ (male cook) who preys on humans. How the British Officers succeed in resisting the advance of Werewolf forms the crux of the story. I found this short story – The Werewolf very interesting as it deals with shape shifting creatures. Even author Ruskin Bond’s short story: The Eyes of Cat was based on a shape shifting creature where a girl transforms into a leopard.
Hollywood has glorified the legend of Werewolves through several movies like ‘The Wolfman’, The Wolf’ and ‘An American Werewolf in London’. Actor Hugh jackman played the role of a werewolf in horror/adventure movie – Van Helsing (2004). A Vampire hunter named Van Helsing on a pursuit to trace Dracula is bitten by a werewolf and how he overpowers Dracula by becoming Werewolf forms the rest of story.
Numerous Hollywood movies like ‘Cursed’, ‘The Wildling’ are based on the premise of urban legend connected to Werewolf. Among all the Werewolf movies, the 2010 movie – The Wolfman remains one of my favorites. Are werewolves real or is it the product of our imagination? It is left to us to believe in this urban legend behind the phenomena of human transforming into blood thirsty creature.