Wolf Man Review

Wolf Man is the second Universal Monster getting the reboot by Blumhouse and filmmaker Leigh Whannell after their success with 2020’s The Invisible Man.

Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott) is a writer and father to Ginger (Matilda Firth). He is estranged from his father and his marriage with Charlotte (Julia Garner) has turned sour. When the State of Oregon confirms the death of Blake’s father, Blake suggests that his family go to Central Oregon to see his childhood home and try to repair his marriage. However, the legendary ‘Face of the Wolf’ is rumoured to stalk the area and threaten the family during a terrifying night.

Universal’s original plan was to make a cinematic universe featuring their famous monsters, i.e. Dracula, Frankenstein, The Creature of the Black Lagoon, etc… Those plans were scuttled when The Mummy (2017) flopped hard, and The Invisible Man was retooled as a low-budget sci-fi horror film. The Invisible Man (2020) modernised the setting, changed how The Invisible Man got his powers, and most importantly updated the themes which made The Invisible Man (2020) into a #MeToo film. It was an entertaining film that had an edge.

Whannell and Blumhouse aimed to repeat what they did with The Invisible Man (2020) with Wolf Man. Their brief seemed to be ‘Do that again.’  The setting was changed to modern-day America, and the film had a familial theme. Blake had a stern militaristic father, leading to Blake trying to avoid being like him. Blake wanted to be a kind and caring father to Ginger but there was a darkness as he was liable to snap. The shadow of the father still lingered over the son.

The family theme extended to the marital issues. Blake and Charlotte’s marriage was on the rocks, leading them to think a country retreat would repair it. This made Wolf Man feel like another Blumhouse production, the remake of Speak No Evil. Wolf Man had a typical theme in horror films where trauma can fix a family’s issues.

Wolf Man was not a typical werewolf story. It was made to be a mix of body horror and family drama. The film showed the transformation was slow and painful. Blake looked more like he was turning into a zombie and moved like an ape than a Lycan. Blake was decaying in front of his wife and daughter with his teeth and fingernails falling out. For a film called ‘Wolf Man’ there weren’t many werewolves in it.

Wolf Man was a limited-scale film. Most of it was set on the Lovell farm, which consisted of a house, a barn, and a greenhouse. The film focused on three characters under siege, but the restrictions limited the film too much as the characters ran from place to place. It wasn’t an action experience like Dog Soldiers. It was a slower-paced film with lofty ambitions because of its themes.

There were some interesting moments. The transition to how Blake saw the world as he transformed was a great visual. It was a terrifying experience for Blake, as his vision changed and he was unable to understand his wife and daughter. Whannell showed he can direct a visually dynamic scene. When the film did pick up, there was some excitement and thrills, like when the family’s truck crashed and they were terrorised by the mysterious creature. It was a shame that there wasn’t enough of this.

Wolf Man was a film made with noble intent, and its ideas can be appreciated. The film had some flourishes that lifted a dour experience.