Granted, they weren't going for something fearful, but this sasquatch junior design just doesn't work on any level. The main character isn't even the worst werewolf in the film... look at his dad. Oof.
I think this is a great werewolf movie, but man, that design isn't successful. It's a credit to the film that they kept the monster in the shadows most of the time.
I love Buffy, but man, Oz the werewolf (after that first appearance, where they changed him to look like a tiny caveman) was just the worst moment in all of werewolves.