Werewolves have captured the imagination of people for centuries. These mythical creatures that transform from human to wolf have been depicted in movies, TV shows, books, and more. One question that often comes up is what color is a werewolf’s blood? In this article, we will examine the various sources on werewolf lore to try to determine what color werewolf blood is said to be.
Quick Answer
The quick answer is that there is no definitive answer on what color werewolf blood is. In movies and TV shows, werewolf blood is often depicted as red, the same color as human blood. However, in some folklore, werewolf blood is described as being dark or black in color when in wolf form.
Examining the Origins of Werewolf Lore
To understand what color werewolf blood might be, it is helpful to examine the origins of werewolf lore. Stories of humans transforming into wolves have existed for thousands of years in various forms. One of the earliest examples is the Epic of Gilgamesh from ancient Mesopotamia, which includes a character named Enkidu who transforms into a wolf-like creature.
In ancient Greece and Rome, there were stories of people transforming into wolves as punishment from the gods. In Norse mythology, fierce wolf warriors called berserkers took on the ferocity of wolves in battle. Throughout the Middle Ages in Europe, there was a widespread belief that witches could transform into wolves.
The word “werewolf” comes from the Old English words “wer” meaning man and “wulf” meaning wolf. The werewolf as we know it today emerged most clearly in 16th century France. Writers of the time wrote about werewolves as suffering from a medical condition that caused them to transform and crave human flesh.
The Werewolf as a Human With a Condition
This idea of the werewolf as a human afflicted with a disease or condition persisted into the 19th and 20th centuries. Works like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde portrayed the werewolf transformation as the result of a scientific experiment gone wrong. Most modern fictional depictions continue this trend of showing werewolves as humans suffering from an infection or curse.
If werewolves are considered humans with an affliction, it would stand to reason that their blood would remain red in color when transformed. The popular werewolf movie franchise The Howling even explicitly shows werewolves with red blood. So from a scientific perspective, red blood in werewolf form aligns with the idea of lycanthropy as a disease.
The Werewolf as a Supernatural or Demonic Entity
However, in some folklore, werewolves are portrayed not as afflicted humans but as inherently supernatural or even demonic entities. In these stories, the werewolf transformation is not caused by nature but by magic or demons. The werewolves are seen as unnatural creatures outside the realm of ordinary biology.
In these cases, the werewolf would likely not bleed red human blood. Supernatural creatures in myth and legend often have magical green, black, golden, or silvery blood. For example, in some depictions vampires are said to have blood the color of rubies. If werewolves originate from dark spiritual forces, it would make sense for their blood to appear unnatural.
Examples of Dark Werewolf Blood
There are a few examples in film and literature that align with this supernatural view of werewolves and show them having darkened blood:
- In the Harry Potter books, Lupin drinks a potion to ease his werewolf transformations that smokes and bubbles “dark crimson.” This implies his blood itself is an unnatural dark color.
- In the Underworld werewolf movies, the lycans bleed black blood when wounded.
- In the comic book series Fables, Bigby Wolf bleeds black blood when in wolf or werewolf form.
So while not completely common, dark werewolf blood does appear in some sources that treat werewolves as more supernatural than scientific.
What Color Blood Makes Sense for Werewolves?
Based on the origins and varying depictions of werewolves, arguments could be made for either red or dark, unnatural blood colors. On one hand, many modern audiences are accustomed to werewolves being humans with a condition, so red blood is logical in that framing. But darker blood also aligns with the supernatural view of werewolves present in some ancient myths.
Here is a summary of the key points on each side of the werewolf blood color debate:
| Red Blood | Dark/Black Blood |
|---|---|
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So which color ultimately makes the most sense? There are good arguments on both sides. Since modern audiences tend to view werewolves as humans transformed by disease, red blood is probably the safer choice in most current fictional works. But for authors or filmmakers wanting to make their werewolves more demonic and magical, there is definitely precedent for using dark or black blood too.
How Other Films and Shows Depict Werewolf Blood
To get an idea of the most common werewolf blood colors, let’s take a look at how some notable movies, TV shows, and books portray it:
Red Blooded Werewolves
- The Howling – The werewolves bleed bright red blood when shot with silver bullets.
- Van Helsing – Features red-blooded werewolves.
- The Vampire Diaries – The werewolves have red blood when in wolf form.
- True Blood – Depicts werewolves with ordinary red blood.
- The Wolf Man (1941) – The classic film shows the werewolf bleeding red when killed.
Dark Blooded Werewolves
- Underworld – The lycans have black blood in their wolfish forms.
- Fables comics – Bigby bleeds black blood when transformed.
- Harry Potter – Lupin’s medicinal potion is a dark smoking crimson, implying dark blood.
- The Werewolf of Paris – The 19th century book describes the werewolf with dark, thick blood.
As this list shows, red blood is far more common. But black or darkened blood does occasionally appear and harkens back to the supernatural folklore origins of the werewolf.
Conclusion
In the end, there is evidence for both red and dark/black werewolf blood colors depending on the perspective from which the werewolf originates. Contemporary audiences are very used to the idea of werewolves as people suffering from a disease, so red is the predominant color used in current pop culture. However, for authors or filmmakers wanting a more supernatural and demonic depiction, darkened blood can work as well. There is sparse but consistent precedent for it in some folklore and older stories. So while red is the safer choice, the color of werewolf blood ultimately comes down to each creator’s preference and whether they imagine werewolves as humans afflicted with a disorder or monsters of supernatural origin.