Face of the Screaming Werewolf (1964) Plot Summary Explained

The Aztec mummy targets Ann Taylor because she is revealed to be a reincarnation of an Aztec figure. Through hypnosis, Ann regresses to a former life and her memories guide the archaeologists to the pyramid where the mummies are found. The Aztec warrior seems drawn to her due to this spiritual connection, attempting to abduct her from her apartment before both are struck by a car.

Foreshadowing: Ann's hypnosis session in the opening reveals her past-life memories of the pyramid location, establishing her connection to the Aztec entities.

• ann taylor
• aztec mummy
• kidnapping
• reincarnation
• pyramid

The mad doctor Yerye Beirute abducts the werewolf-mummy from the pyramid tomb and brings it to his laboratory. There, he performs some kind of revival procedure, unwraps the mummy, and successfully brings the creature back to life. The full moon rising triggers the transformation from mummy to snarling werewolf.

Foreshadowing: The tomb contains two mummies, with the werewolf specifically noted as Caucasian, hinting at the creature's potential for reanimation.

• werewolf
• revival
• mad doctor
• lab
• mummy

The werewolf's transformation is triggered by the full moon. After the mad doctor revives the mummy in his lab, the creature awakens as the full moon rises, transforming into a snarling werewolf that immediately goes on a killing rampage.

Foreshadowing: The werewolf is found wrapped in the tomb, but the full moon is specifically mentioned as the catalyst for his transformation once revived.

• full moon
• transformation
• werewolf
• rampage

The werewolf kills the mad scientist shortly after being revived and transformed. After awakening as a snarling werewolf during the full moon, the creature attacks and kills Yerye Beirute in his own laboratory, then escapes into the nearby city to begin his killing spree.

Foreshadowing: The mad doctor's revival of the ancient creature sets the stage for his own death at the hands of the monster he unleashed.

• mad scientist
• werewolf
• killing
• escape
• lab

The Aztec mummy's plotline ends abruptly when he attempts to kidnap Ann Taylor from her apartment. As he tries to carry her away, both the mummy and Ann are struck by a car and killed off-screen. A newspaper headline then quickly announces the mummy's death, giving sudden finality to that storyline.

Foreshadowing: The mummy's escape from captivity sets up his pursuit of Ann, but the car accident provides an unexpected and quick resolution to the Aztec warrior thread.

• aztec mummy
• car accident
• ann taylor
• death

At the film's conclusion, after Tin-Tan defeats the werewolf and the creature reverts to his human form upon death, a pair of American policemen on screen dismiss the entire notion that a werewolf was ever involved. This closing moment leaves the supernatural events unresolved and suggests the authorities refuse to believe what happened, adding an unsettling layer of disbelief to the ending.

Foreshadowing: The film's ambiguous supernatural tone, combined with its disjointed narrative, supports this ending that undermines the heroic victory with doubt.

• police
• werewolf
• dismissal
• ending
• disbelief

Tin-Tan, the Mexican comedian, appears as the hero who confronts the werewolf in the film's finale. He battles the monster on a high ledge and ultimately defeats it with a burning torch. However, most of his scenes were cut from the Americanized edition by Jerry Warren, making his climactic appearance feel oddly out of place and disjointed from the rest of the film.

Foreshadowing: The timeline sets up a confrontation near the finale, but the editing creates the jarring effect of a comedian suddenly appearing in what was otherwise a serious horror narrative.

• tin-tan
• comedian
• americanized edition
• jerry warren
• climax

The werewolf escapes the laboratory by killing the mad scientist who revived him. After transforming into a snarling werewolf during the full moon, the creature attacks and murders Yerye Beirute, then breaks out of the lab into the nearby city where he begins a terrorizing killing spree.

Foreshadowing: The werewolf's violent nature is established immediately upon transformation, making his attack on the scientist predictable.

• werewolf
• escape
• lab
• killing spree
• city

Ann Taylor is important to the archaeologists because she is a psychic woman who, through hypnosis, regresses to a former life and uncovers memories that guide them directly to an ancient Aztec pyramid. Her past-life visions provide the crucial clue that leads to the discovery of the tomb containing the two mummies.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Ann's hypnosis session, establishing her as the key that unlocks the archaeological discovery.

• ann taylor
• hypnosis
• archaeologists
• pyramid
• regression

The movie feels disjointed because it is a literal compilation of footage from different Mexican horror movies combined with scenes directed by Jerry Warren. This results in a fragmented narrative with highly variable pacing that jumps abruptly between hypnosis sessions, archaeological discoveries, monster rampages, and a sudden climactic ending. The cobbled-together footage creates logical inconsistencies and tonal whiplash throughout.

Foreshadowing: The meta notes confirm the film's complex construction through footage compilation, explaining the abrupt transitions and confusing structure.

• compilation film
• disjointed
• pacing
• footage
• jerry warren

When Tin-Tan defeats the werewolf by striking him with a burning torch, the creature dies and reverts to his human form. This is a classic werewolf myth element where the monster returns to his human appearance upon death, adding an ironic twist that the creature was once a person before becoming the werewolf.

Foreshadowing: The werewolf was identified as a mummified Caucasian male in the tomb, establishing he was human before his supernatural transformation.

• werewolf
• human form
• death
• revert
• tin-tan