A family at a remote farmhouse is attacked by an unseen animal, but as the night stretches on, the father begins to transform into something unrecognizable.
Chuck says:
Those who know me, understand that I consider the Universal Monster films of the 1930’s and 1940’s to be sacrosanct. These pop culture classics set the foundation for the horror genre, the social and artistic impact of these cinematic masterpieces, incalculable. That they continue to resonate nearly 95 years after the first entry in the cycle, “Dracula,” was released in 1931 is a testament to their unique artistry and continued popularity.
And while I can’t begrudge Universal’s desire to continue to profit from these properties, it’s become obvious those hoping to squeeze a few more dollars out of the Frankenstein monster and his brethren don’t care about these characters’ legacy. They fail to realize these characters and titles come freighted with certain expectations. While it would be foolish to expect exacting remakes of the originals, at the very least efforts to reinvent them requiresat least a cursory nod to their histories. Failing to do so only results in disappointment in hardcore fans and, perhaps, unfair evaluations of these new films.
It’s obvious that examining the trauma and long-term effects of abuse are of interest to writer/director Leigh Whannell. This was the central theme of his vastly overrated 2020 re-do “The Invisible Man,” as well as his newest Universal feature “Wolf Man,” an in-name only remake of the 1941 classic. Obviously, this is a worthy subject, one that has served as the basis for many a horror film in the past.
However, doing so under the banner of one of the Universal horror titles does the topic and characters a disservice. Whannel has taken all that made these films unique and pushed it to the background, concentrating instead on the more human, realistic elements of his theme. Had his two “remakes” come with different titles (“The Battered Woman” or “Haunted”), horror fans would have accepted them on their own merits, free of any expectations of watching an unseen, urbane mad scientist wreaking havoc or a cursed man transformed into a raging beast. Disappointment is to be expected with such an approach.
Whannell casts aside full moons and ancient curses, instead using domestic trauma and repressed anger as catalysts for unleashing the dark side of Blake (Christopher Abbott), an unemployed writer in a strained marriage. A sense of animosity has grown between he and his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), as she’s the breadwinner in the family. Their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) can’t help but notice the tension between them.
In an effort to start fresh, Blake suggests they relocate to his deceased father’s farm in the Oregon mountains. Things go south quickly after their arrival as they are attacked by a mysterious beast. The wounds Blake suffers result in his transforming into a wild, violent creature, one driven by rage, oblivious to reason.
What ensues is a meandering siege drama that frustrates rather than thrills, its threadbare story coming apart before the titular creature makes its first appearance. As a director, Whannell isn’t clever enough to keep a single-setting movie engaging. Barricaded in the ramshackle home for much of the film, little in the way of suspense is created, Blake’s transformation and the revelation of his tortured history coming far too slowly.
Tedium trumps the terror, which is a shame as the work from the three principals is quite good. All of the characters go through respective transformations, each in the trio bringing a sincerity to their roles that nearly salvages the movie. Abbott, one of our most underrated, young actors, generates a great deal of empathy for Blake and the creature he becomes, so much so that the climax proves to be the most effective part of the film.
Unfortunately, Whannell’s approach mutes their fine work. Listless and lacking complexity, “Wolf Man” fails to tap into the rich history of the character and in doing so, dooms the project from the start. If you’re not going to include full moon curses, raging lupine man-beasts and a mob of frightened, superstitious citizens, you’d be advised to find another title for your movie.
2 Stars
