Shout Factory continues to bring the horrific fun through their horror brand Scream Factory. Their latest release is the 1985 adaptation of Stephen King’s novelette Cycle of the Werewolf, Silver Bullet starring the late Corey Haim, Gary Busey and Everett McGill in an all-new collector’s edition 4K.

 

Silver Bullet follows a peaceful town that is suddenly terrorized by a maniacal killer. The townsfolk think a madman is on the loose, but a wheelchair-bound 13-year-old knows the truth ... a werewolf is on the hunt. With the help of his Uncle Red, young Marty Coslaw sets out to stop the half-man/half-beast before he sinks his teeth into another innocent victim. Now, time is ticking ... and the full moon is about to rise.

 

I discovered this film when I was younger alongside my best friend and instantly became obsessed with it. There are numerous lines from Gary Busey that became part of our daily quotable nonsense to this day. I love this move on every level. The story is simple and keeps thing moving with just enough depth to keep you engaged in the mystery of it all until the secret is revealed. I have always been surprised that they make the big reveal so early, but it adds to the mystery of Marty trying get people to believe him.

 

The cast is great with the late Corey Haim in one of his earliest roles doing a great job. For me though Busey steals the show with his over the top lines and persona that continues to make him stand out. Where it works the most is in both the reveal and transformation sequence of the werewolf itself. Practical effects and smart camera work keep it from falling too cheesy and still giving it that classic look that I love.

 

I love all things werewolf and I am pretty sure this film along with the 1941 film The Wolf Man are the reasons. It was years later that I discovered that it was a Stephen King story which turned me onto him as well. This new