[MOVIE REVIEW] WOLFMAN brings a fresh approach to this horrifying monster
“Blake and his family are attacked by an unseen animal and, in a desperate escape, barricade themselves inside a farmhouse as the creature prowls the perimeter. As the night stretches on, however, Blake begins to behave strangely, transforming into something unrecognizable that soon jeopardizes his wife and daughter.”
In 2003, we’re introduced to Leigh Whannell by way of SAW and the rest is history. Universal Monsters seems to be his calling as of late. He gave us a gut-wrenching story with THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020) that was hindered by Covid-19 but that didn’t stop him from pursuing more monsters.
His latest installment with WOLFMAN packs a serious punch and if you have a weak stomach, can’t handle blood or gore then we suggest skipping this one.
Right off the bat, expectations were low. The trailer made it seem like another horror slump that was pushed out to capitalize on a beloved Universal Monster. There was even a teaser during Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, but it was quickly removed, likely due to spoilers. Having seen the film, I believe that was the right move; not knowing what the wolf man would look like brings a sense of dread and unnerve.
Christopher Abbott, as Blake shined; his love and protection for Ginger (Matilda Firth) was powerful and heartbreaking. Julia Garner is another stand-out character whose arc sold me on her being a loving mother and wife who is trying to help not only her daughter but also her husband, who is slowly losing his mind.
They filmed WOLF MAN in New Zealand as the backdrop for Portland, Oregon and I was sure they filmed in the PNW! The luscious trees and deserted farmhouse location were a nice touch to showcase just how alone the Abbotts would be.
The make-up fx truly shocked me, and while I was thinking about Rick Baker’s make-up for AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, I could see where Leigh tried to make it his own.
A gripe I have with the film is Julia’s character; I felt she didn’t have enough to do, and while her character arc is deserved, she kind of makes silly decisions that don’t add up at times. You can argue that she panics and makes haste decisions as anyone would, but Leigh’s female characters tend to be left to the wayside, unfortunately.
My final thoughts are to watch WOLF MAN in theaters with your friends, have a good scare and some laughs. The first horror film of 2025 is off to a good start and there’s plenty more on the way.
Review by: Krystina Alfonso
