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Moon of the Wolf (1972) movie poster

Timeline

Moon of the Wolf (1972) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1972 · 75 mins · English
JustWatch #5,514 2
Directed by
Daniel Petrie
Starring
Dick Crockett, Royal Dano, Robert Phillips, Bradford Dillman, Geoffrey Lewis, David Janssen

When the full moon rises over rural Louisiana, deadly secrets creep from the shadows. After a string of brutal murders claims several locals, the county sheriff begins to suspect that a werewolf may be stalking the town, forcing him to confront ancient folklore and a growing wave of terror.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Moon of the Wolf
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Moon of the Wolf (1972)

Where can you watch Moon of the Wolf? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Artiflix and Chilling: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Moon of the Wolf Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Moon of the Wolf (1972) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Discovery of the victim's body

    Two farmers in Marsh Island discover the mauled body of a local young woman and summon Sheriff Aaron Whitaker. The grim discovery triggers the town's murder investigation and stirs fear about what killed her. The case quickly becomes a focal point for rumors and suspicion among residents.

    Where
    Marsh Island crime scene
  2. Autopsy and early theories

    Dr. Drutan performs the autopsy and determines the victim died from a blow to the head. The sheriff begins interviewing townsfolk who offer competing theories, including an attack by wild dogs. The investigation widens as the mystery deepens.

    Where
    Marsh Island crime scene
  3. Burrifors arrives and accuses a lover

    Lawrence Burrifors arrives at the scene in a fit of rage and insists the killer is the victim's mysterious lover, a man his sister would not name. The sheriff remains wary of the brother's volatile temper and possible motive. The personal feud within the Burrifor family complicates the case.

    Where
    Crime scene, Marsh Island
  4. Father warns of the loup-garou

    The victim's dying father, Hugh Burrifor, warns the sheriff about the loup-garou and hints at folklore beyond the sheriff's understanding. He offers a cultural context that there may be a supernatural cause behind the murder. The warning plants the seeds for a folklore based explanation.

    Where
    Hugh Burrifor's home
  5. Investigation at Rodanthe plantation

    The sheriff visits the plantation of Andrew Rodanthe and meets his sister Louise. Andrew claims to have malaria the night of the murder and denies involvement with the victim. The sheriff begins to suspect a possible affair with the victim and a link to the Rodanthe family.

    Where
    Rodanthe plantation
  6. Lawrence's arrest and the fatal jailbreak

    Lawrence assaults Dr. Drutan, drawing the sheriff's suspicion away from others. He is jailed, and as the full moon rises, violence erupts in the jail when steel bars are torn from the wall. Lawrence and the sheriff's deputy are killed in the brutal attack.

    Where
    Marsh Island jail
  7. Transformation at the hospital

    Andrew Rodanthe, exposed to Hugh Burrifor's voodoo potion, suffers an apparent epileptic seizure and is taken to the hospital. There, he undergoes a brutal transformation into a werewolf. The town's sense of safety dissolves as fear spreads.

    Where
    Hospital
  8. Louise decodes Rougarou

    Louise reveals she can speak French fluently and agrees to talk with Hugh Burrifor about the term Rougarou. While discussing, Louise deciphers that Rougarou is a mispronunciation of Loup Garou, meaning werewolf. The revelation reframes the killer's identity in folklore terms.

    Where
    Hugh Burrifor's home
  9. Family secret and inheritance

    Louise explains a family secret: her grandfather suffered spells of sickness that align with werewolf lore, implying the curse could be inherited by Andrew. The sheriff gains a lineage-based explanation for the killer and a bridge between folklore and danger. This moment ties the supernatural belief to real threat.

    Where
    Louise's plantation/home
  10. Werewolf Andrew on the run

    Transformed into a werewolf, Andrew escapes the hospital and becomes the target of a townwide manhunt. The community braces for a dangerous pursuit under the looming threat of the full moon. The chase pushes the town to its limits as fear spreads.

    Where
    Marsh Island vicinity
  11. Mayor and posse mobilize

    A posse forms to track the werewolf while Louise pushes the mayor to recognize the danger and to consider possible drug-based remedies. She offers folklore-informed insight to help the town respond. The authorities scramble to act under mounting pressure.

    Where
    Mayor's office
  12. Homefront confrontation begins

    Louise returns to the Rodanthe plantation; Andrew, still in werewolf form, enters the house. She flees to the barn and attempts to set him on fire, then returns to the house to seek safety. The tense indoor-outdoor chase intensifies the danger.

    Where
    Rodanthe plantation
  13. Final pursuit and death

    The werewolf confronts Louise, and she shoots him just as the sheriff arrives. Andrew dies and briefly reverts to human form before dying. The sheriff's arrival marks the end of the immediate threat to Marsh Island.

    Where
    Rodanthe plantation
  14. Aftermath and legend lingers

    With the danger over, Marsh Island processes the bizarre events and the tale of Rougarou folklore turning real. The sheriff closes the case and the community reflects on the fear and the strange turn of events that touched their town.

    Where
    Marsh Island

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:30

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Timeline questions answered

Moon of the Wolf Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Moon of the Wolf (1972): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Andrew Rodanthe become a werewolf?

Andrew suffers from a hereditary werewolf curse passed down through his family. His grandfather before him experienced similar spells of illness during full moons, and Louise reveals that the curse is inherited. The curse manifests when Andrew is exposed to certain triggers, particularly during a full moon, causing him to transform into a murderous beast.

Foreshadowing: Louise mentions her grandfather's spells of sickness that align with werewolf lore, foreshadowing Andrew's inherited condition.

  • andrew rodanthe
  • werewolf curse
  • hereditary curse
  • family secret
  • loup garou
Q2

How does the voodoo potion trigger Andrew's transformation?

The voodoo potion belongs to Hugh Burrifor and was meant to repel the Rougarou. When Andrew investigates the potion with the sheriff, he inhales its vapor and experiences what appears to be an epileptic seizure. This exposure seems to catalyze his transformation into a werewolf, occurring at the hospital where he is taken for observation.

Foreshadowing: The potion was described as something to repel the Rougarou, making its interaction with Andrew significant.

  • voodoo potion
  • hugh burrifor
  • repel rougarou
  • transformation
  • hospital
Q3

What is the connection between Andrew Rodanthe and the murdered woman?

The sheriff suspects that Andrew had an affair with the victim. During his investigation at the Rodanthe plantation, the sheriff learns that Andrew may have known the young woman personally. Andrew claims he was struck by malaria on the night of the murder, but his relationship with the victim becomes a key point of suspicion.

Foreshadowing: The sheriff's investigation at the plantation uncovers tension and possible motive.

  • affair
  • murder victim
  • andrew rodanthe
  • investigation
  • suspicion
Q4

Who kills Lawrence Burrifors and the deputy in the jail?

During a full moon, violence erupts in the Marsh Island jail when steel bars are ripped from the wall. Lawrence Burrifors and the sheriff's deputy are both killed in this brutal attack. The context strongly implies Andrew, as a werewolf, is responsible, the timing coincides with his transformation and the attacks follow the pattern of the murders.

Foreshadowing: The warning about the loup-garou and the escalating attacks during full moons set up this violent event.

  • lawrence burrifors
  • deputy killed
  • jailbreak
  • full moon
  • murder
Q5

What does "loup-garou" mean and how does Louise decode it?

Loup-garou is a French term meaning werewolf. When Louise speaks with the dying Hugh Burrifor about the term Rougarou (which he uses), she deciphers it as a mispronunciation of Loup Garou. Her fluency in French allows her to translate the folklore term, revealing that the killings are attributed to a werewolf.

Foreshadowing: Hugh Burrifor's warning about the loup-garou plants the folklore explanation early in the investigation.

  • loup garou
  • rougarou
  • werewolf
  • french translation
  • folklore
Q6

Why does Andrew's grandfather's illness matter in the story?

Louise reveals to the mayor and sheriff that her grandfather suffered spells of sickness that align with werewolf lore. These episodes occurred during full moons and matched the classic symptoms of werewolf transformation. This family history confirms the curse is hereditary, passed down to Andrew, and provides a logical explanation for his murderous behavior.

Foreshadowing: The mention of family illness foreshadows the hereditary nature of the curse.

  • grandfather
  • hereditary curse
  • family illness
  • werewolf symptoms
  • inheritance
Q7

How does Louise know about the werewolf curse affecting Andrew?

Louise knows about the curse because it runs in her family. She shares with the sheriff and mayor the family secret that her grandfather suffered from similar spells during full moons. This direct family connection means Louise understands Andrew's transformations are not random violence but the result of an inherited condition she has witnessed before.

Foreshadowing: Her fluency in French and knowledge of folklore suggests deeper family involvement.

  • louise rodanthe
  • family secret
  • curse knowledge
  • grandfather
  • awareness
Q8

Why does Andrew revert to human form after being shot?

When Louise shoots Andrew with a rifle, he dies and immediately reverts to his human form. The transformation seems tied to his life force, once killed, the curse breaks and his body returns to its natural state. This brief moment shows the sheriff the truth: the beast was indeed Andrew Rodanthe all along.

Foreshadowing: The curse's power was always tied to Andrew's life, making death the only escape.

  • revert human form
  • death
  • transformation broken
  • curse ends
  • andrew dies
Q9

How does the sheriff figure out Andrew is the werewolf?

The sheriff pieces together the truth through multiple clues: Hugh Burrifor's warning about the loup-garou, Louise's translation of the term, and her revelation about the hereditary family curse. The voodoo potion incident at Hugh's house, where Andrew suffers a seizure, adds another piece. When Andrew escapes as a werewolf, the sheriff confirms what the evidence pointed to, that the wealthy Rodanthe brother is the monster.

Foreshadowing: Early clues about the loup-garou and family illness build toward this revelation.

  • s sheriff aaron whitaker
  • discovery
  • werewolf identity
  • investigation
  • clues
Q10

Why does Louise try to burn the werewolf in the barn?

When Louise returns to the plantation and realizes Andrew has transformed, she attempts to kill him by setting fire to the barn where he's pursuing her. This desperate act is her effort to destroy the creature before it can kill her. However, the werewolf escapes the blaze and continues chasing her back into the house.

Foreshadowing: The escalation of violence shows Louise taking matters into her own hands.

  • barn fire
  • louise rodanthe
  • escape
  • desperate act
  • pursuit
Q11

Why does Andrew volunteer to become a deputy during the manhunt?

After Lawrence and the deputy are killed in the jailbreak, Andrew volunteers to join the posse hunting the werewolf. This seemingly civic action is actually a clever maneuver, by positioning himself among the hunters, Andrew can steer them away from discovering his own involvement while appearing to help protect the town.

Foreshadowing: Andrew's eagerness to join the hunt becomes suspicious in retrospect.

  • volunteer deputy
  • manhunt
  • misdirection
  • posse
  • stealth
Q12

What is the significance of Hugh Burrifor's warning about the loup-garou?

Hugh Burrifor, the dying father of the murder victim, warns Sheriff Whitaker about the loup-garou, a werewolf in French folklore. This warning introduces the supernatural explanation before any concrete evidence exists. The sheriff doesn't understand the term at first, but it sets the groundwork for the film's eventual revelation that a werewolf is responsible for the killings.

Foreshadowing: This early warning plants the folklore theme that becomes central to the mystery.

  • hugh burrifor
  • loup garou warning
  • folklore
  • supernatural explanation
  • deathbed

Movie threads

More Movies Like Moon of the Wolf, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Moon of the Wolf tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Small town supernatural mysteries like Moon of the Wolf

Stories where a local investigator unravels a dark supernatural threat. If you liked the investigative pacing and folk horror elements of Moon of the Wolf, you'll find more movies like it here. These films feature small-town settings, a procedural mystery driven by a local sheriff or outsider, and a slow-burn reveal of a supernatural threat tied to the community's secrets.

  • investigative
  • folk horror
  • small town
  • suspenseful
  • atmospheric
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, suspenseful
  • Pacing: steady, procedural
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a rational protagonist, often a sheriff or outsider, who is initially skeptical of supernatural explanations. As the evidence mounts and the threat becomes undeniable, the story methodically peels back layers of local history, family secrets, or a forgotten curse, culminating in a direct and often tragic confrontation with the paranormal entity.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific blend of crime procedural and supernatural horror. They focus on the process of investigation within a confined community, creating a cohesive experience defined by steady pacing, a dark tone, and the chilling realization that folklore is real.

Tragic werewolf and monster curse movies like Moon of the Wolf

Horror tales where the real monster is a hereditary fate. Fans of the sad ending and emotional weight of Moon of the Wolf will appreciate these similar movies. This list features horror stories where the monster is a tragic figure, often due to a family curse, blending supernatural scares with poignant character drama and bittersweet resolutions.

  • tragic
  • melancholic
  • folk horror
  • fearful
  • somber
  • gothic
  • Tone: dark, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative often follows a character who is either aware of or discovers their cursed heritage. The conflict is deeply personal, pitting the protagonist against their own nature or family history. The journey is marked by a sense of inevitable tragedy, leading to an ending that resolves the immediate threat but carries a heavy emotional cost, often involving sacrifice or death.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their focus on the pathos of the monster. The similarity lies in the blend of classic horror with a melodramatic or tragic character arc, where the supernatural element is a metaphor for inherited trauma or an inescapable destiny, resulting in a uniquely sad and thoughtful horror experience.

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Movies Like Moon of the Wolf

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Every angle

Moon of the Wolf (1972) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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