Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
Blum House's latest attempt to revive the classic monster movies comes in the form of "Wolf Man," a modern retelling of the iconic tale. While the premise promised a chilling exploration of the man-versus-monster dynamic, the film ultimately fails to deliver.
What could have been a tense and thrilling horror experience, instead devolves into a predictable and often boring outing.
Here's where "Wolf Man" succeeded — and where it faltered.
A promising start, but nowhere to go
The opening scenes of "Wolf Man" showed potential. The eerie atmosphere, the ominous soundtrack and a few genuinely creepy moments seemed to set the stage for a gripping horror story. One specific use of the chilly air got me genuinely excited with how clever it was. I thought, this is where we're starting and we're just going to go up from here. I was wrong.
Unfortunately, the film peaks early. The plot quickly becomes overly predictable, with twists so telegraphed that there is no shock or surprise when they are finally revealed. In fact, as soon as 15 minutes in, it was painfully obvious how the movie was going to end and what the "twist" was going to be. This isn't me patting myself on the back for being clever enough to figure it out; it was just that clearly obvious. This lack of suspense makes the movie feel tedious rather than terrifying.
For a story that centers around transformation and inner conflict, "Wolf Man" offers surprisingly little depth. The man-versus-beast struggle is glossed over, leaving the characters feeling one-dimensional. As a result, the emotional stakes never quite land and the film misses an opportunity to explore the psychological toll of the curse.
Performances hampered by poor chemistry
The cast of "Wolf Man" does its best with the material it is given, but it is let down by a script that fails to flesh out the characters. The lack of chemistry between the leads is particularly noticeable, making it difficult to invest in their relationships or motivations. While the actors have their own moments, they struggle to create any real connection on screen, leaving the audience disengaged.
Moments of gore and transformation
One area where "Wolf Man" stands out is in graphic transformations. The scenes where man becomes beast are undeniably grotesque and visually impressive, showcasing some of the best practical effects in recent horror films.
However, these moments are not enough to carry the movie. Once the initial shock wears off, the transformations feel repetitive and the gore begins to feel gratuitous rather than integral to the story.
What parents should know
"Wolf Man" is rated R for a combination of language, graphic violence and disturbing imagery. While the language is sporadic and relatively mild for an R-rated film, the real concern lies in the gore and transformation scenes. These sequences are highly detailed and unsettling, showcasing flesh tearing, bones contorting and blood-splattering.
Younger audiences or those sensitive to graphic imagery may find these scenes particularly disturbing. Parents should also be aware that the overall tone of the movie is dark and brooding, which may not be suitable for all viewers.
Conclusion
"Wolf Man" is a film that howls loudly but lacks bite. Despite its promising start and a few well-executed moments, it's ultimately let down by a predictable plot, lackluster character dynamics and scares that fail to deliver.
While it's not the worst horror movie in recent years, it's far from the best. If you're a fan of the classic Wolf Man or looking for a horror film with real teeth, you might want to wait for the next full moon and hope for something better.
"Wolf Man" is rated R for graphic violence, disturbing imagery and language.
