The Werewolf is a 1956 American horror science fiction film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring Don Megowan and Joyce Holden.

[1] Set in contemporary times (i.e. the 1950s), the storyline follows an amnesiac man who, after being injected with "irradiated wolf serum" by unscrupulous doctors, transforms into a werewolf when under emotional stress.

A disheveled man in a suit wanders down the main street of the small, rural town of Mountaincrest on a winter's night.

As the two men struggle in an alleyway, Ma Everett sees only four legs sticking out onto the sidewalk but hears an animal snarling.

Sheriff Jack Haines takes Joe's body to Dr. Jonas Gilchrist and nurse Amy Standish.

The doctors believe that once perfected, the serum will allow "a select minority of people" — chosen by them — to survive the imminent nuclear holocaust.

In human form, Duncan comes and tearfully embraces Helen and Chris, but tells Amy to take them away as he fears he might turn into a werewolf again and harm them.

The old Bear Valley Reality office and the Rexall Drug store are clearly visible in the town scenes.

[5] Variety wrote that the film "seldom rises above a plodding monotone and won't create much reaction in the minor program market for which it is headed".

[8] Harrison's Reports wrote, "The picture offers little that is original, either in story or in treatment, but it may prove acceptable to the horror fans since it is the first 'wolfman' type of film to reach the screen in years".

[9] In the US, The Werewolf premiered in Los Angeles on June 13, 1956[10] and went into general release in July[11] as the second feature on a double bill with Earth vs the Flying Saucers.

[16] After opening in UK theaters in August 1956, it was released in the Netherlands in 1957 and Argentina in 1958, then at unspecified dates in France, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Finland, the Soviet Union, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

[21] Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the film on DVD in October 2007 as part of the two-disc, four-film set Icons of Horror Collection: Sam Katzman, along with three other films produced by Katzman (Creature with the Atom Brain, The Giant Claw and Zombies of Mora Tau).