Villainess Blown Opportunity: Louise Rodanthe Should Have Become a Werewolf (Moon of the Wolf)

When it comes to villainesses, I'm always thinking. I think of the ones I see, the ones I hope to see, and especially the ones we should have seen. Whether it's different characters or portrayed heroines who had the opportunity to cross that line and become villainesses, I'm always thinking that we could have seen some deliciously evil women in certain settings. I've written about a few blown opportunities here on Vocal, and number of them on Reddit, and I do have some others in mind. One such idea was one I wrote on Reddit a year and half ago, and it centers on the 1972 horror film, Moon of the Wolf.

The cast of the film included legendary actress Barbara Rush, who sadly passed away in March of last year at the age of 97. Fans of 7th Heaven remember Rush as Grandma Ruth Camden in 10 episodes of the series. I had been familiar with the name Barbara Rush for a long time, despite the fact that I had only seen one movie of hers: the aforementioned Moon of the Wolf.

The film centered on a series of vicious murders in a Louisiana town, and thanks to what was introduced as ramblings from the father of one of the victims, it's revealed that a werewolf was behind the murders. At that same moment that one reveal took place, a second occurred. Andrew Rodanthe was hospitalized due to what he believed was a case of malaria, but after his sister, Louise Rodanthe (Rush's character) figured out that a werewolf was involved, we see Andrew transforming and attacking a doctor before escaping. The climax sees Louise pursued by her evil werewolf brother at their house, with Louise believing that she had eliminated Andrew when the barn caught fire. Sounds of howling revealed that Andrew survived, but he would not survive silver bullets fired by Louise.

Now, for years, I have always thought this: Louise should have become a werewolf in a plot-twist ending. And yes, this is mainly because of my adoration for female werewolves, but it still would have made things interesting. Andrew's demise came just as Sheriff Aaron Whitaker arrived at the house, and it's at this point where Louise's heel turn should have occurred. There's two ways this could have happened.

Option A: Whitaker comforts Louise after surviving Andrew, and he reports what occurred to his colleagues. While that's going on, Louise begins turning heel and undergoing her werewolf transformation, and she cements her heel turn with an attack to Whitaker, with a demonic howl for good measure. Option B: same beginning to Option A, but we see a shot of Louise's hands being covered with hair and her nails being long and clawed (similar to Andrew's heel turn in that hospital room), and the film would end with Louise breaking the fourth wall and flashing an evil smile right to the viewing audience. An added bonus to Option B could reveal that both siblings inherited their grandfather's traits, though Louise's traits would have been more dormant until Andrew's demise.

Louise becoming a villainess in the film's 11th hour would have been delicious. I truly think that Barbara Rush would have pulled it off very well, especially Option B where Louise could give that evil smile during her werewolf reveal. Even so, Rush gave quite an amazing performance; one of many that she is remembered for.

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So what do you think? To those who saw Moon of the Wolf, should we have seen Louise turn heel and suddenly become a werewolf villainess in the film's 11th hour? Feel free to comment with your thoughts below!