I am a huge fan of all things werewolf especially the old school stuff. The latest getting the Blu-ray treatment under the Shout Factory brand is the 1981 film Full Moon High from director Larry Cohen starring Adam Arkin, Ed McMahon, Demond Wilson, Jim J. Bullock, Alan Arkin, Pat Morita, Bob Sagat, and Kenneth Mars.

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Full Moon High follows quarterback Tony Walker who is to win the big game against archrival Simpson High, but this plan soon changes when his ultra-right-wing dad drags him along on a spy mission for the CIA. In Romania, Tony is bitten by a werewolf – and that’s when things really start to get hairy! Now, whenever there’s a full moon, he transforms into a growling beast that hungrily chases down beautiful girls. Cursed to live forever as a teenager with uncontrollable urges, Tony realizes he must find a way to the end this cycle of animalistic excess. I didn’t realize until after starting to watch this one that I had never seen it all the way through and was sad to see it didn’t really help it all that much. The big issue with this film is that it can’t seem to figure out if it wants to be a comedy or horror drama and instead is something smashed in the middle that gets lost all over itself.

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The issues of this movie do not change the fact that it still manages to entertain at times and fully screams the 80s. Coming out at the time when these werewolf teen flicks seem to be a thing this one just never fully found its place like bigger ones such as Teen Wolf. What this one did differently though was attempt to make the werewolf aspect a bit more dark and sometimes it worked and others not so much. If nothing else these kinds are movies are great seeing the early works of some of these actors that have gone onto much bigger things.

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In addition to the film this release offers up bonus content including new commentary and the theatrical trailer. If you love the 80s, werewolves or all of the above then give Full Moon High a try available now from Shout Factory.

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For more information head over to www.shoutfactory.com