Teen Wolf: Collector's Edition

Adolescence has probably never been as difficult, awkward, and confusing as it is for poor Scott Howard, a teenager confronted with some very peculiar physical changes. And like all kids his age, dealing with the pressures of high school during this strange developmental stage only makes matters worse. For Scott, long hairs suddenly show up in weird places, fingernails grow sharp and pointy, ears extend further out, and on full moon nights, he feels compelled to howl at the moon. You know, normal teen drama that can't really be shared by friends, completely out-of-touch parents, or an apathetic basketball coach. But on the bright side, at least Scott doesn't have to worry about severe acne.

Teen Wolf is an amusing, light-hearted teen flick from 1985 which ponders the issues of growing up from a different perspective. What if your family comes from an extremely unusual lineage, with a visible oddity that doesn't reveal itself until puberty? Michael J. Fox stars in another memorable role, following close on the heels of his first mega-success in Robert Zemeckis' Back to the Future, which catapulted his career from the small screen to Hollywood stardom. Actually, this small fantasy comedy was shot and completed before the sci-fi hit, but it wasn't released until the following month, essentially capitalizing on Fox's sudden popularity, which can be seen in the movie's alternate titles in the foreign market.

The two movies couldn't be any more different from each other, yet they both explore some universal themes of the modern high schooler. The first sees its young hero learn that his parents were once kids much like himself, while the other has its teen protagonist struggle with life-altering changes during that part of youth when we transition from child to mature adult. Both films also gain tremendously from Fox's talent at making characters seem genuine and comical, like we are somehow laughing at the same ordeals we all face during adolescence. This is perfect since the biggest challenge of 'Teen Wolf' is trying to making the hardships of a werewolf relatable to audiences.

In the first few minutes, Scott explains his frustrations with being average, wishing there was something that made him special and standout from the rest. It's probably safe to assume most of us shared in that sentiment — at least a little — at some point during our high school days. His best friends, Styles (Jerry Levine) and Boof (Susan Ursitti), try to make him feel better, and his father (James Hampton) is as understanding as any parent can be. But it's not until after Scott discovers his extraordinary gift that he realizes such talents come with greater responsibilities. Popularity goes straight to his head, and his new challenge is in learning who cares for him as a person versus those who only admire the wolf.

Written by Jeph Loeb, who also scripted Commando and is well-known as an award-winning comic book writer, Teen Wolf was a modest success at the box-office and was followed by a college-themed sequel with a young Jason Bateman, a Saturday-morning cartoon sitcom, and a long-running MTV drama that dropped the series' humor. Still, even thirty years later, nothing quite compares to watching the always-enjoyable Michael J. Fox transform into a werewolf while we have a good laugh at adolescence.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

The Teen Wolf Collector's Edition from Scream Factory comes with a 50GB Blu-ray Disc that is Region A Locked. There is no digital download code, but there is an insert for Scream Factory promos. The disc is housed in a hard, blue plastic case with a cardboard sleeve. The box art is reversible with the original poster art.