Wolfing it Down
Pairing wine with movies! See the trailers and hear the fascinating commentary for these movies and many more at Trailers From Hell. This week, we have three films vying to keep the wolf from the door, and on the screen where he belongs. Lap up a wine pairing for each movie.
An American Werewolf in London bared its fangs in 1981, written and directed by TFH guru John Landis.
Two backpackers decide to see how much trouble a couple of young Americans can get into in the English moors. A lot, it turns out. Griffin Dunne and David Naughton bring laughs to the horror as the latter is bitten by a werewolf and suffers some howling side effects. Naughton’s character is left wishing he could be a Pepper, too.
How does one kill a werewolf? First of all, save your silver bullets. Do you know how much ordinary stuff can kill a dog? Wine is right up there, or any alcoholic beverage. But milk is bad, too. Chocolate is also not so good for Rover. Nor are avocados, persimmons, eggs, fish, salt, sugar, yeast or macadamia nuts. It looks like the only thing dogs can safely eat are Bonz. So why so much trouble killing werewolves? Just send them to a buffet.
Landis kept the screenplay in his top drawer for more than a decade when possible backers felt it was too funny for horror and too horrific for comedy. It turned out to be a huge hit, asking the musical question, “What do producers know, anyway?”
Werewolf wines are from Transylvania, and they sport the scariest “critter labels” I’ve ever seen. They even glow in the dark. The line features Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, all of which pair well with werewolf. So I’m told.
https://www.tri-vin.com/wines/romania/werewolf-merlot-2016-r6340/
1943’s Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man has Bela Lugosi donning the monster clothes, while Lon Chaney unleashes the Wolf Man. They return to the scene of the most recent destruction just in time for the Festival of the New Wine. How lucky! After hobnobbing with the local officials, the Wolf Man, in human form, decides to try and tinker with Frankenstein’s monster, just for old times’ sake. Cue the villagers. They are not having it.
Pick any wine from the Alsatian Grand Cru Frankstein Vineyard. I know, not actually Frankenstein, but it’s close. Oh, wait…
https://www.vinsalsace.com/en/grands-crus/frankstein/
South Africa’s Radford Dale Winery has a Pinotage called Frankenstein. The name was given due to the bad reputation the Pinotage grape has for being harsh and medicinal. They say if the grape is treated meanly it will show its angry side. Pinotage, they say, “is not a monster; it is a soul with a heart and one which will repay kindness with abundant generosity of its own. Keep your pitchforks in the barn.
https://www.samsmith.com/products/Radford-Dale-Frankenstein-Pinotage-p-000047074
The 2001 French horror film, Brotherhood of the Wolf, actually features a beast which is later found to be a lion. That didn’t stop the Brotherhood from giving naming rights to the canis lupus.
The French have trouble solving a string of murders, so they call for a band of Iroquois Native Americans to help in the fight. Their paths had apparently crossed during the American Revolution.
This movie is set in 18th century France, and is noted for its action scenes, mixing swashbuckles with martial arts. Think Bruce Lee with a sword.
The Beast is a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Del Dotto Vineyards. It runs close $300 a bottle, and you have to be a VIP member for the privilege of purchase. But they say, “membership has its rewards.”