Show Notes
Episode Overview
In this episode, Kristin, Jeannine, and Carole revisit Teen Wolf (1985)—a movie that’s part sports comedy, part supernatural puberty metaphor, and part time capsule of 80s weirdness. From Michael J. Fox’s transformation montage to the now-infamous “van surfing” scene, the crew debates whether Teen Wolf still charms or just makes us cringe.
Movie Synopsis
High school student Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) feels invisible until he discovers that he’s inherited a family curse: lycanthropy. Once he embraces his werewolf identity, Scott becomes a local legend—dominating the basketball court and finally catching the eye of his longtime crush, Pamela. But fame comes with fur, and Scott learns that being the “Teen Wolf” might not be all it’s cracked up to be.
Cast
- Michael J. Fox as Scott Howard
- James Hampton as Harold Howard
- Susan Ursitti as Boof
- Jerry Levine as Stiles
- Lorie Griffin as Pamela Wells
- Mark Arnold as Mick McAllister
Behind the Scenes
- Budget: $4 million
- Box Office: $80 million worldwide
- Filming Locations: Primarily in Los Angeles, California
- Fun Facts:
- The film was shot before Back to the Future but released after, riding the wave of Fox’s new superstardom.
- Stiles’ graphic T-shirts became an unexpected cult hit, inspiring fan reproductions decades later.
- The “van surfing” sequence was real—no CGI, just risky 80s filmmaking.
Critical Reception
Critics were less than kind. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it “aggressively boring,” while The Washington Post’s Lloyd Grove labeled it “determinedly bland and unoriginal.” Audiences were kinder, though, giving Teen Wolf a 52% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It became a late-night cable mainstay and a quirky touchstone for fans of Michael J. Fox’s 80s era.
(Canby, 1985; Grove, 1985)
Our Verdict
The Shermer High crew agreed: Teen Wolf lands high on the cringe scale. From the locker room humor to the dated dialogue, it’s a weird but fascinating relic of its time.
- Kristin: “Not unoriginal—but definitely bland.”. Rated ‘Kind of’ cringe. Not watching on a Saturday.
- Jeannine: “It’s got its moments, but once was enough.” Rated ‘Kind of’ cringe. Not watching on a Saturday.
- Carole: “Fun to revisit, but I’ll never pay to stream it again.” Rated ‘Not Really’ cringe. Not watching on a Saturday.
Cringe Factor: 2 out of 5 on the cringe meter
References
Canby, V. (1985, August 26). Film: Teen Wolf, Comedy Starring Michael J. Fox. The New York Times.
Grove, L. (1985, August 24). ‘Teen Wolf’: Determinedly Bland. The Washington Post.
