Shudder Day: Curse of the Devil (1973/4)

 Paul Naschy is finally back on this Website!

His Werewolf Film Series- aka the Waldemar Daninsky Series- has almost no real continuity.

As such, there's no issue covering the 7th Film now.

Here it is under the US Title (designed to market off of the success of The Exorcist)...

This is one of those Films with A LOT of setup, so bear with me...

Long ago, Waldemar (Naschy) kills a heathen and leads the execution of the rest of the evil clan.

The final lady curses his line before death.

What happens if you interrupt these curses?

Much much later, his descendant is hunting a Wolf.

When he finally shoots it, it turns back into a man (off-camera).

This apparently triggers the curse, meaning several Daninsky men led very normal lives.

The family of the Romani Werewolf killed is inspired to call upon the Devil himself (hence the Title) to make this Curse happen.

This involves a lady from the Tribe having sex with Satan (who is just a guy in a black bodysuit!) and then setting up a convoluted way to meet Waldemar.

He finds her on the road and brings her home.

In spite of his Maid's warnings, he falls for her and he gets Satan's sloppy seconds.

That night- on Walpurgis Night- she bleeds on a werewolf skull and 'bites' him with it.

Now he's beginning to turn into a Werewolf during the many, MANY Full Moons they have in this area.

However, there's also a feral-looking killer on the loose, so it is not clear that a Werewolf is Among Us (or Them).

Eventually they figure it out as the body count rises and the killer is eventually found dead from his wounds earlier (see above).

Can Waldemar stop himself before he kills his true love?

He can't stop before killing her Sister (who seduces him) and both of her Parents though.

There's also a Subplot involving the Village, who turn on the Sheriff-like figure and kill Waldemar's helpers.

I'm pretty sure you know how these Films work by now.

He kills just about everyone- including the 'Sheriff'- but can't attack his love.

She was given a silver dagger and ends his Curse.

Don't worry- we get Sequel Bait in the form of her and his Son (as she was pregnant days earlier).

The End.

This one is essentially a reset for the Franchise, even if the continuity doesn't really exist.

The previous Films got into stranger territory than this, including the previous Film where he meets Dr. Jekyll!

The best and worst thing about this one is just how familiar it really feels.

There's not much new here.  Many of the familiar tropes are here.

I will note that the Romani guy turned into a regular Wolf (as original Werewolves 'did') and Waldemar becomes a Wolf Man (not The).

I guess blame Satan.

The whole 'Killer on the Loose' Subplot does help to delay the inevitable Scene of the Mob trying to kill our Hero/Villain at least.
All of the extra steps to get there are kind of silly though.

Naschy's Werewolf Films are almost always fun.  I should finish these out, but I'll try not to get a head of myself...

I make no apologies.

A fun Film that didn't take many risks.  That said, the formula is still pretty good and the atmosphere is great.