“I’m Looking at a Werewolf,” from Terror in the Woods

Terror in the Woods isn’t a bad show, although it’s largely for entertainment value, with documentation sparse and scientific rigor non-existent. The episodes vary from ho-hum to compelling, and if you select the episodes of your viewing carefully, you may find them worthwhile and even compelling to watch…

Season 3, Episode 3 of the series first aired in September 2021, and it’s hard to resist the luring title of one segment, “I’m looking at a (bleeping) werewolf, and it’s trying to kill me!” Well, it turns out that the werewolf in question is kind of the Louisiana bayou variety, which stands about 7′ to 8′ tall, and has larger-than-human-like features with a wolf-like head. Known as a Rougarou, such shape-shifting creatures appear human if sickly in the daytime, reverting to a werewolf form at night with a thirst for blood. ..

Now there are as many ways to become a Rougarou as there are ways to spell it, with methods involving the classic bite to a witch’s spell. The cultural background of the creature is rich and diverse, originating from tales told by French Canadians in Louisiana to keep their kids in line, and out of the woods at night! – – Gotta keep the little buggers scared to get them compliant, ‘ya know!

While Rougarou have some commonalities with both vampires and traditional werewolves, they differ as well. They’re unbothered by silver bullets or religious artifacts, and to kill one usually requires decapitation and preferably burning or severe mutilation of the body.

In the series episode, a young guy hits on a strangely feral girl at the clothing store where he works, booking a date with her that evening. The hours pass but the girl never appears at the appointed site, so the guy plays basketball with other guys at the site for four hours before leaving with them at midnight when the court automatic lights go off. Hearing an unnatural noise behind them, the guys perceive something threatening and inhuman, and attempt to run away. One slips and falls, and the creature is upon him. Seeking to save their comrade, one of the others pulls a .38 from his pack and fires at the beast, because this is ‘Merica, after all! The presumed Rougarou is driven off but not killed, and the narrator of the tale suffers from nightmares thereafter…

So if you’re Louisiana-bound, enjoy some cool jazz and hot Cajun cookin’…but beware of the Rougarou, especially if you unknowingly arrange a date with one!

Explore posts in the same categories: anomalies, anthropomorphic, cryptozoology, furry, horror, legends and folklore, paranormal, speculation, unexplained

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4 Comments on ““I’m Looking at a Werewolf,” from Terror in the Woods”

  1. carycomic Says:

    Rougarou is, of course, a linguistic corruption of “loup garou.” A fact I first learned way back in the early 1970’s in a TV-movie that starred David Janssen (ex-star of Quinn Martin’s “The Fugitive”) as a small-town parish sheriff* and Barbara Rush as his former high school crush (the scion of an old Creole planter family).

    The prosthetic make-up used following the revelation of the Rougarou’s real identity was pretty sophiiticated for a 90-minute movie of the week!

    *Louisiana doesn’t have counties.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. carycomic Says:

    “Moon of the Wolf”! That was the title. First telecast on ABC in 1972.

    Liked by 1 person


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