Wolf Man is a solidly constructed werewolf movie that’s dragged down by its inability to bring a single new idea to the genre. Good performances and a gnarly transformation are just enough to save this bland creature feature from needing to be put down.
Leigh Whannell’s previous monster movie, The Invisible Man felt creatively inspired, swerving around easy genre trappings to provide a fresh take on a familiar story. Wolf Man feels like a regression, playing it totally safe with a lot of “been there, done that” story beats. It’s decently directed, and not without some tense moments, but it rarely if ever surprises the audience with anything unexpected. That lack of innovation in turn takes a lot of the tension out of the horror, because you can easily guess what’s coming next.
The filmmaking on display is commendable, with some impressive practical effects. With much of the film set at night, everything is well lit, but the use of darkness is also quite effective. The visual and audio effect used to convey the main character’s loss of communicating skills was interesting, especially in the way the camera swung between different points of view. One of the best components of a werewolf movie is the physical transformation, and Whannell delivers on that front. It doesn’t hold a candle to classics like “An American Werewolf in London” or “Ginger Snaps”, but it’s effective in what it’s trying to convey.
Christopher Abbott, who is one of this generation’s most talented working actors, is the biggest reason to watch the movie. He perfectly captures the brutal and painful transition from man to beast, as he loses more of his humanity (and teeth) with every passing moment. Julia Garner is also quite good, conveying the pure dread of watching your partner gradually lose their grasp on being human. Unfortunately neither character is fleshed out enough beyond simple characteristics that fit the plot. It’s hard to care about either of them or their child because there isn’t a strong connection built between their characters and the viewer.
Horror remakes have proven before that you can in fact teach an old dog new tricks, but that’s not the case with Wolf Man. This tame reimagining of the classic werewolf fable doesn’t have much bark or bite beyond Christopher Abbott’s committed performance.
Wolf Man is now available to rent or own on digital platforms.
2.5/5