By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Think of this as more of a reimagining than a remake of the 1941 classic monster flick of the same name. Unlike the 2010 remake, which was a critical and commercial disaster, “Wolf Man” is a modern interpretation of this iconic beast. With well-crafted tension and suspense from the opening scene, the adrenaline-fueled story takes audiences on a heart palpitating ride that digs its claws in deep and doesn’t let go.
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After a childhood of learning survival skills from his father deep in the forested hills of Oregon, Blake (Christopher Abbott) has lived his entire adult life in San Francisco, where he has tried to forget his mysteriously missing father. The past never remains buried, however, and when the state of Oregon officially declares Grady (Sam Jaeger) dead many years after his sudden disappearance, Blake knew it was time to revisit his past. With his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner), and his young daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth), the family sets off on a fateful trek.
Unbeknownst to them, they enter the hunting grounds of a terrifying creature and quickly become its prey. Managing to escape the humanoid monster’s initial attack, Blake secures him and his family in his remote childhood home while nursing his infected wound. As the night wears on, Blake’s health rapidly deteriorates, transforming him before Charlotte’s and Ginger’s eyes. Blake would do anything to protect his family, but can he protect them from himself?
“Wolf Man” is the second film of Universal’s Monsterverse following 2020’s “The Invisible Man,” but they are considered independent of each other. Both of these films are written and directed by Leigh Whannell, and his modernized take on these classic monster stories is refreshing, pumping new life into this old school horror genre. The Australian actor turned filmmaker uses a tried-and-true formula when crafting this movie but spices it up with an unrelenting tension that builds a foundation of fear.
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Drawing his inspiration from 1986’s “The Fly,” Leigh wanted the werewolf transformation to be more unique and visceral than previous iterations. He purposefully stays away from CGI, instead entirely relying on practical effects to achieve a more believable transformation. The outstanding use of makeup and prosthetics flawlessly show the erosion of human characteristics into something more animalistic. Further complimenting this visual is Leigh’s decision to treat this as more of a rabid disease than some fantastical creation, which helps to root the terror in reality. Then, as an added touch, he switches the perspective from the female characters to the changing male character to illustrate his sensory adaptations to the world around him, showing his growing loss of self. He steers clear of some of the werewolf mythology like their aversion to silver, giving them a more flesh-and-bone, mortal foundation than a supernatural background. Traditionalists will likely abhor the new visage, but the realistic approach provides a more tangible terror than the trademark fur coated monster.
The drawback to only using makeup and prosthetics is it makes for an unpleasant experience for the cast. Christopher Abbott, whose performance in “Poor Things” was very underappreciated, proves to be up to the task in this starring role, shouldering the responsibility very well. He does a great job of humanizing his character as a loving father and an imperfect husband haunted by his past. Through his eyes and facial expressions, he displays a relatable sense of confusion and fear over his worsening condition that shifts to desperation of holding onto his moral compass as long as possible when his transition from man to beast nears completion. Interestingly, Ryan Gosling was originally cast for this role only to later opt out and stay on as a producer.
Further enhancing the credibility of this production is having Emmy winner Julia Garner (“Ozark”) as the co-star. While her performance is more muted in this film, this is still a highly talented actress who does her job of instilling genuine fear in her character. Her relatability as a working mother allows the audience to empathically feel her fear, harnessing investment in her character’s outcomes. Garner will be in another reboot later this summer, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
A simple, yet compellingly clever storyline, three dimensional characters that are well-acted, hair-raising suspense, and heart stopping jump scares highlight the production. What more could you ask for from a horror film? “Wolf Man” brings a refreshing new look to an age-old cinematic monster that will likely anger purists but embrace those who appreciate creativity. As a disclaimer, there is plenty of stomach-churning gore to give it that R-rating, but this is one horror film that is worth seeing on the big screen.
This movie earns
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