Werewolves, Royal Connections, & Real-Life Exorcisms

Werewolves are creatures steeped in folklore, often described as humans who transform into wolves, usually under the light of a full moon. These beings, also known as lycanthropes, have been a staple of European mythology for centuries. The most common story tells of an ordinary person cursed or infected with lycanthropy, a supernatural affliction that causes them to undergo a painful transformation into a monstrous wolf, either by their own will or involuntarily.

The image of the werewolf has changed over time, shaped by countless tales, movies, and books. They are typically portrayed as a combination of man and wolf, possessing both the cunning of a human and the ferocity of a wild animal. Some legends even say that werewolves can only be killed by silver bullets, which has become a popular trope in films and fiction.

In medieval Europe, werewolves were taken very seriously, much like witches. People who displayed strange behaviours, suffered from fits of rage, or even had excessive body hair could be accused of being werewolves. While today most people regard werewolves as creatures of fiction, some people do believe that werewolves might exist in some form.

There's even a theory believed by some that the British royal family are werewolves. The claim dates back as far as King John, who was rumoured to have risen from the grave as a wolf after his death in the 13th century. This belief was influenced by his excommunication by the Pope.

The theory of royal werewolves has even been hinted at in popular culture. In the 2006 'Doctor Who' episode 'Tooth and Claw', Queen Victoria encounters a werewolf and is injured in the process. The Doctor suggests that she might have been bitten, leaving viewers to wonder if a supernatural lineage could have begun from that point.

Even modern urban legends are sprinkled with tales of so-called "werewolf sightings," particularly in rural areas. Many believers are convinced that these mysterious creatures are roaming the woods, especially in places where wolves are still present.

Werewolves have also been linked to medical conditions such as hypertrichosis, a rare disorder that causes excessive hair growth all over the body. In the past, people suffering from such conditions might have been mistakenly identified as werewolves.

There's little to suggest that werewolves truly exist. Most accounts are anecdotal or can be explained by a mix of folklore, mental illness, and societal fears. For instance, cases of clinical lycanthropy, a psychological condition where someone believes they can transform into an animal, may explain many of the historical accounts.

Werewolves share some similarities with other supernatural creatures, like hellhounds and black shucks, but there are key differences. Hellhounds are typically depicted as large, ghostly dogs with glowing eyes, often seen guarding entrances to the underworld or accompanying the Devil. Meanwhile, black shucks, a type of ghostly black dog seen in British folklore, are often associated with hauntings and are thought to forewarn death. Unlike werewolves, these creatures are not humans who have undergone a physical transformation.

In the paranormal world, it seems you're never too far away from a story about demons. Well, that's also true in the case of werewolves as some believe the affliction might be the result of demonic influence or a curse that continues through generations.

This was true in the case of the Southend Werewolf, a supposed real-life event from the 1980s, investigated by the husband-and-wife-investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, famous for their involvement in cases like the Amityville haunting case. The Southend Werewolf is the subject of the 2014 book 'Werewolf: A True Story of Demonic Possession' based on Ed and Lorraine's case.

The case revolves around Bill Ramsey, who the Warrens believed to be suffering from a werewolf-like condition that resulted in violent outbursts and animalistic behaviour. The Warrens concluded that this was due to demonic possession rather than a physical transformation.

Ed and Lorraine suggested an exorcism to rid Bill of the wolf-like entity they believed possessed him. It's claimed that during the exorcism, Bill displayed behaviours eerily reminiscent of a wolf, such as contorted facial expressions and claw-like hands.

The Southend Werewolf case shows how easily different paranormal concepts, like demons and werewolves, can overlap. But others argue that Bill's condition was the result of a psychological disorder. One reader summed it up well in a review of the book on Amazon: "It's pretty obvious after reading this that it's a story about an angry alcoholic."

Whether you believe that werewolves are literal beings, a metaphor for human nature, or simply misunderstood individuals with psychological or medical conditions, the werewolf legend is one that won't easily fade away. And who knows, on a dark night, under the full moon, perhaps some stories are best left untold.