The lycanthrope, also commonly known as the werewolf, dates back to Mesopotamia around 2100 B.C.E., when the oldest surviving texts of the Epic of Gilgamesh were first written, hinting at shape-shifters and animal transformations. The common myth is that every time there’s a full moon, the individual undergoes a transformation from man to beast.

The werewolf is the original body horror. The body reshapes, growing fangs and claws, and becomes covered with coarse hair.

In medieval times, the wolf itself became a symbol of evil—a creature in league with the devil. Between the 15th and the 16th centuries, werewolf trials spread across France, Germany, Switzerland, and Eastern Europe.

Werewolves are a fascinating symbol, often interpreted as a missing link between present-day civilization and our primal past. Sexuality is also linked to the myth, acting out impulses, the urge to break loose without regret, and letting go of inhibition. The beast can represent different facets of the mind: a power that can make them remarkable, a reflection of an individual’s dark desires, or an impulse to break away from the restraints of society.

This thin line between our humanity and the beast raises a provocative question: Who is really in control? The person on the outside or the monster that lives inside, waiting to come out? The debate continues.