On a remote farm in Oregon, a family fought to survive a night of werewolves in “Wolf Man.” The film followed Blake and his family, who got attacked by a werewolf on the way to his presumed-dead father’s farm. While hiding on the farm, Blake began turning into a werewolf.
The film was directed by Leigh Whallen, he co-wrote the screenplay with his wife, Corbett Tuck. It starred Christopher Abott as Blake; Julia Garner as his wife, Charlotte; and Matilda Firth as his daughter, Ginger. It was based on the 1941 film “The Wolf Man.”
Highs
The werewolf transformation was gruesome and horrific. “Wolf Man” didn’t hold back on it being the main horror element, at times it was even painful to watch. Abbott’s performance added to this as he made it appear miserable, making the watcher sympathetic towards him.
Though predictable, it still maintained suspense and tension. The plot was built around one awful night, the family becoming more desperate and afraid as it went.
The cinematography was a mixed bag. The scenes in daytime were consistently good, with an almost fuzzy, cloudy quality to it that made nature both beautiful and awe-inspiring. Night time scenes were hit or miss, but the good ones were gloomy and foreboding.
Lows
Although there were moments of good cinematography, the vast majority of it had a fatal flaw. It was too dark, making it difficult to follow what was happening. Even on a large theater screen it was a problem. Just because it was dark for the characters didn’t mean it had to be so dark for the audience.
The movie's plot and pacing felt incomplete, as if crucial scenes of context were cut. The passage of time was difficult to keep up with, and if one kept track of locations, they made no sense. The transformation was also harmed in this, progressing at times in a confusing way.
Characterization was also missing. Charlotte lacked compelling motive or personality. The film said she’s a journalist writing a book and that she had a complicated dynamic with her husband, all groundwork for an interesting character. However, this all became meaningless once she reached the farm, she was boiled down to just concern and fear.
Verdict
“Wolf Man” felt incomplete as a film, missing necessary scenes and characterization. If it had been a little bit longer, perhaps it would have had more time to flesh itself out. It also could have used better lighting. It ended up as a lukewarm horror film with good elements, but overall failed to reach its full potential.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Frank Remski is a film and theater reviewer for The Eastern Echo. He is majoring in media studies and journalism and minoring in public relations. He has worked for The Echo since summer of 2023 and has written both news stories and opinion pieces.
