‘The Werewolf Of Washington’ Blu-Ray Review – A Horror-Satire Curio Is Given A Second Life

Watergate-era governmental corruption inspired this cinematic howl of anger from boundary-breaking auteur Milton Moses Ginsberg (Coming Apart). The Werewolf of Washington is a biting satire that savagely attacks beltway politics while paying playful homage to the wolfman pictures of the past. Dean Stockwell (Blue Velvet) stars as a presidential aide whose rise to power is exacerbated by the bite of a wolf, transforming him into a bloodthirsty beast with the rising of every full moon. As history has shown, a monster in the White House is not strictly a 1970s phenomenon, and so, half a century later, The Werewolf of Washington is as eviscerating and relevant as ever. This edition includes a special director’s cut prepared by Ginsberg shortly before his death in 2021, as well as a 2K restoration of the 1973 theatrical release version.

For thoughts on The Werewolf of Washington, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/EZXKpYBBKKY?t=807]

Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray from Kino Classics gives The Werewolf of Washington an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that looks really terrific. This film has been extremely difficult to find for decades, and director Milton Moses Ginsberg was never completely happy with the original 1973 theatrical version due to certain fights he lost with the production company. A little over a decade ago, the original film elements were finally rediscovered and the process of constructing a proper Director’s Cut to reflect Ginsberg’s vision was finally completed in 2021. Now fans can finally experience this film widely as this disc includes both cuts on the same disc derived from a 2K restoration. No one probably expected this one to receive this level of care, but this disc is quite a beauty for those who have been dreaming about it. 

The feature has a great grain structure that preserves the filmic look of the picture, showcasing distinct details in the various interiors, in the makeup effects and on the clothing. The color timing seems natural and consistent with a very natural appearance. Colors show up on the screen nicely, especially in the bright hues of certain costumes and elements of the production design. Black levels hold up well with some admirable depth to the image and nothing in the way of crush. There is no notable damage to be found in this presentation with only the most minute instances of dirt and specks in the image that have made it through the restoration gauntlet. Kino Classics has really delivered with this title. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a perfectly engaging LPCM 2.0 track that delivers a favorable listening experience. This track shows few signs of age related wear and tear. The track can occasionally emanate a gentle hum, but even this is stretching to find an issue. The music does not overwhelm the dialogue or other important information. Dialogue and background noises are balanced well with all competing elements so that everything has a chance to shine. Kino Classics has done some good work here. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. 

Special Features

• Director’s Cut (1:14:11) and Original Theatrical Cut (1:29:27)

• Interview with Milton Moses Ginsberg: A recent nearly nine-minute interview with the director before his death in 2021 conducted by Metrograph Artistic Director Jake Perlin in which they discuss the process of bringing this film back to life after all of these years, why this film was compromised in the first place, the complicated release history of the feature and more. 

• A Critical Discussion: A 19-minute discussion between critics and film historians Simon Abrams and Sheila O’Malley in which they delve into their mutual appreciation for the film, the scarcity of the feature, where this fits into Dean Stockwell’s filmography, the bizarre tone of the film, the political relevance of the story and more.

• Trailers: This disc provides the Theatrical Trailer (2:21) and a TV Spot (0:26) for The Werewolf of Washington. There is also a trailer provided for Coming Apart.

Final Thoughts

The Werewolf of Washington is a pretty admirable blend of classic horror creature features with biting political satire. Not every bit lands with perfect accuracy, but the experience overall is one that works well. While the classic Theatrical Cut of the film is no disaster by any means, one can see why Ginsberg wanted to get his true vision out into the world with this superior Director’s Cut. Dean Stockwell fans will delight in his performance in this one, as this role gives him a lot to play with. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray release that shows off a terrific A/V presentation and a fine collection of special features including two versions of the film. This is worth seeking out for those who enjoy horror curios. Recommended 

The Werewolf of Washington will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and Digital on February 21, 2023. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.