The Wolfman Review
When looking back at films that escalated the genre known as horror, one would surely include the 1941 classic, The Wolf Man. The character became a staple in Universal Films, along with Dracula and Frankenstein, during that era. Almost seventy years later, the immortal werewolf has been given a chance to be reintroduced to this generation. I’m not talking about the inclusion of werewolves in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, but rather a “remake” of the amazing original.
Who could recreate the iconic performance by Lon Chaney Jr? How about a man who, from a certain angle, resembles the man himself in Benicio Del Toro? That’s exactly who was chosen, to the delight among many fans. Throw in Anthony Hopkins and Hugo “V” Weaving, and you’ve got yourself a cast of actors bound to give you something special.
As you would suspect, the films opens with a full moon and an attack from the beast. Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) returns to his forgotten life, reuniting with his father (Anthony Hopkins). He learns that his brother has been killed by this beast, and vows vengeance. Once Lawrence encounters the werewolf, he is bitten, sending panic through the town.
The Wolfman suffered a series of rescheduled release dates, spanning from 2008 to now, and after watching the final product, it’s obvious to see why. This film just isn’t strong enough, especially for being about this recognizable character.
A lot of times in films, they try to pinpoint everything specific to a certain time period. For The Wolfman, it falls sometime within the 1800s. That’s a bit of a problem to the overall movie. Authenticity is fantastic, but being as faithful as possible can leaves some viewers uninterested or bored.
The whole movie really becomes predictable, even before the actual climax. Gore is held to a very high standard, as this film carries a heavy R Rating. To be honest, the best scenes are these brutal attacks within the woods and streets. As the last shot fades, the film suggests a sequel, which could have potential to be greater than this work if done right.
Should you go see this? I don’t recommend buying a ticket or purchasing this when it comes out on DVD. If you do happen to see it on your HBO programming in the near future, check it out for the scenes mentioned above, but otherwise pass.
2.5 out of 5
2 Responses to “The Wolfman Review”
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NK Flickr!
I’m sorry you wasted your money seeing this Justin but thanks for the review
[...] word to access each of their opinions. Giving the movie 2 1/2 stars Justin postulates in his review, “Who could recreate the iconic performance by Lon Chaney Jr? How about a man who, from a [...]