Re-watched Michael Jackson's Thriller video, and now I have questions...

Cafe Society
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  1. I love Rick Baker’s creature effects throughout, but what kind of were-creature is Michael supposed to turn into in the opening sequence? It has slitted pupils and long cat-like whiskers, but it howls like a wolf in mid-chase. Huh?

  2. I’m all for meta, but Michael is watching himself on screen (also as Michael) and no one in the audience, not even his girlfriend, seem to notice that hey, the star of the movie is sitting right there?

  3. At the end, Michael turns to the camera to reveal the werecreature eyes… so are we back in feature that opened the video, or are we to take it that he really IS a were creature and that he’s apparently happy about it and intends to kill and eat his girlfriend?

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My personal observation: Ola Ray was the absolute best screamer of the 80s.

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This video answers OP’s questions.
In short he’s a buyer of mugs.

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Isn’t it just a basic horror movie trope? The hero becomes the monster, or, was evil the whole time.

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If you watch “The Making of…” video, it for sure answers the first - he is a werewolf.

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I realize this isn’t what’s being asked for, but propofol darts will be the next line of defense against werewolves.

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Not exactly: Ola Ray calls it a werewolf, but earlier when Rick Baker is describing the creature he calls it a “cat monster”. I’d side with the guy who actually designed the makeup, but it’s the wolf howl that kind of bugs me. Not in a “I’m going to lose sleep over this” way, mind you.