Villain(s)  Werewolf

Actor(s):  James Ellison, Heather Angel, John Howard, Bramwell Fletcher

Brief Description  The Undying Monster is a 1942 gothic werewolf film produced by 20th Century Fox, notable for its stunning film-noir style visuals, expressionistic lighting, and fast-paced blending of a horror movie with a Sherlock Holmes-style forensic mystery. Directed by the acclaimed filmmaker John Brahm, the film is based on the 1922 novel of the same name by Jessie Douglas Kerruish.

Plot:
The Ancient Family Curse: The story takes place around the turn of the 20th century at Hammond Hall, an isolated, eerie mansion perched on the rugged cliffs of Cornwall, England. The wealthy Hammond family has been plagued for generations by a terrifying ancestral curse. An old family rhyme serves as a warning: "When stars are bright on a frosty night / Beware thy bane on the rocky lane." According to legend, a mysterious, supernatural monster hunts down and violently kills specific members of the family lineage, driving others to suicide.

The Attack on the Cliffs: One freezing, foggy night, Helga Hammond hears strange animalistic howling outside. Knowing her brother Oliver is walking home along the cliffs, she rushes out in fear. She discovers Oliver and a young village girl/nurse named Kate severely mauled down the side of a cliff. Kate tragically dies from her wounds, but Oliver manages to survive the savage assault. The superstitious family butler, Walton, and the frightened villagers are convinced that the legendary "Hammond Monster" has returned to claim its next victims.

Scotland Yard Steps In: Because the attack resulted in a suspicious death, Scotland Yard is called to investigate. They dispatch Inspector Robert "Bob" Curtis, an American-accented forensic scientist who relies on modern, logical deduction rather than supernatural myths. He is accompanied by his enthusiastic, comic-relief assistant, Cornelia "Christy" Christopher, who is fascinated by occult lore.

The Scientific Investigation: Upon arriving at Hammond Hall, Curtis clashes with the local townspeople and the family physician, Dr. Jeff Craig, who is acting highly suspicious and protective of the healing Oliver. Curtis begins an exhaustive, Sherlock Holmes-style investigation. Rather than listening to ghost stories, he meticulously gathers physical evidence, including: Mapping out the exact geometry of the attack site on the rocky lane. Examining mysterious animal hair fibers left at the crime scene. Plaster-casting bizarre, oversized footprints found in the mud. As Curtis closes in on the truth, the creature strikes again, terrorizing the estate and proving that the killer is still lurking within or very near the mansion.

The Frightening Climax and Reveal: Curtis eventually discovers a secret passage hidden within Hammond Hall that leads down to a subterranean crypt. There, the horrifying truth is unveiled: Oliver Hammond himself is the werewolf. The family "curse" is actually a hereditary strain of lycanthropy. Dr. Craig already knew the truth and had been trying desperately to lock Oliver away and find a cure, which explained his secretive behavior. During the final confrontation, the transformed, fur-covered Oliver tries to attack Helga and Curtis. Just as the monster corners them on the edge of the foggy cliffs, police officers shoot the beast. As Oliver dies, the werewolf visage fades away, returning him to his human form and finally breaking the centuries-old curse of the Hammond family.