Ram Review - Wolfman

Picture a chilling night lit only by the full moon and the call of a lone man. This is how the horror remake of classic The Wolf Man begins, and while it should captivate audiences with its sinister manner, something seems to be missing. Missing factor may have been an appropriate wolf-man costume. The actual costume was gorilla-like costume but was intended to resemble a half man–half wolf. The plot line may have also been the fairly transparent but it immediately revealed every suspenseful secrets.

This is not to say the movie was entirely a loss. If you enjoy old horror movies, The Wolf Man definitely mimicked the traditional 1940s thriller in its lighting, make-up and design. Being a horror movie, gore is to be expected but this film goes above and beyond the call for on-screen blood and guts. Savage slayings, horrifying attacks, brutal decapitations, and bodies spilling their intestines dominate the picture. While the figure of the wolf man could have been made more realistic (and in my opinion, more wolf-like), I will admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the bloodbaths and over-the-top massacres. The scenes that delve into Lawrence’s psyche and inner demons are startling and heart-pounding. Honestly, there are moments throughout the movie during which you can do no more than watch through your fingers. 

Moreover, the characters were both fascinating and complex. While always-impressive Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs) was a perfect blend of insanity and eerie calmness as Lawrence’s father, Benicio Del Toro (Che, 21 Grams) is excellent in his role as a scarred young man looking for redemption. Even so, Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria) steals the show in her portrayal of Gwen Cofliffe, a conflicted woman battling her grief and feelings for a man society has deemed off-limits. Even the detective played by Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings) is convincing as he smugly tries to capture the great monster endangering the town.            

The Wolf Man was a mediocre film with great acting and entertaining effects, but not much by way of plot. I recommend waiting for it to come out on DVD and renting it on a quiet night when you do not feel the need to be blown away by a great storyline.