It is that classic tale of beast bites man. Man turns in to beast when the moon is full. The Wolfman went through more than a few obstacles before hitting the big screen finally this month. The film changed directors, had script and production problems, had to have reshoots, and had the release date get pushed back and back and finally found it’s home in February. So, the film has had its trouble, but, quite surprisingly, it’s better than I imagined. Director Joe Johnston‘s The Wolfman has brought horror back to its roots.
The Wolfman is reimagined and reinvented from The Wolf Man from 1941. Lawrence Talbot (Benecio Del Toro) has been away from his home of Blackmoor for several years. However, after his brother goes missing, his brother’s fiancée Gwen (Emily Blunt) wants him to return to find out what has happened to his brother/her future husband.
As Lawrence is reintroduced to his father, Sir John Talbot (Anthony Hopkins), he is told his brother was found dead in a ditch and seems to have been torn apart by a creature. Of course, we find out it is due to an ancient curse that turns a man in to a werewolf during a full moon if bitten. And Lawrence gets bitten and is overtaken by the curse. But for anyone who is familiar with the story, you know that perhaps it is in his blood. In his family’s history.
Del Toro is absolutely perfect to be Lawrence Talbot/ The Wolfman. He has that look about him that no one else has to play this part. And he is good in it. He has some help from make-up and EFX, but he really transforms from man to beast and it is a sight to see on the big screen. Hopkins helps the story and his role is a very important one. He is a great actor, but he does not get too crazy in this film. Del Toro holds his own with Hopkins, but Hopkins definitely plays this role a little creepy and you are always very suspicious of him as you should be.
Blunt is a nice addition to the cast. She plays the female that could possibly win the beast’s heart. There is a lack of emotion in this film, but especially between Del Toro and Blunt. I would have expected more of a connection between these two, but it never really happens. It does not ruin the movie, but they seem more like friends than lovers. But Blunt is a talented, young actress and she does the most she can with what she has been given.
Then there is one last piece to this puzzle and it is Hugo Weaving. We all know him from The Matrix trilogy and V for Vendetta, and he plays the inspector from Scotland Yard named Abberline. He doesn’t have a huge part, but it is important because he believes Lawrence is to blame for the murders, but not because of the curse (Abberline does not believe in such things) but because of Lawrence’s past. At times, Weaving becomes the hunter while Del Toro is the hunted. By the end of the film, Abberline will become a believer. Trust me on that.
The Wolfman exceeds for a few reasons. The time period is perfect for a horror film such as this one. If it was set in modern-day instead of the 1800s, it would have been a mistake and come off looking foolish. The 1800s is a perfect period where the buildings are gothic and the atmosphere is haunting. The make-up and EFX make the werewolf seem more authentic and real. And with Del Toro being The Wolfman, there is no doubt that performance has a lot to do with the authenticity as well.
Plus, the creepy score and music of the film is perfect. This film has gore and blood, but those are not the scary parts. That is from the aftermath of the werewolf. The parts that will make you jump are due to the quick editing and the score. It adds more suspense to an already tense film.
The Wolfman feels like a throwback to its original. The Wolfman is still in ripped shirt and pants, and everything is not in CG. The filmmakers went through the trouble of make-up and paying attention to detail. Now most of the film is about the curse and the transformation. The story tries to include other sub-plots, but it doesn’t spend a lot of time on them. Not everything is able to play out completely.
But a film like this is all about the Wolfman and his destruction. Part of the interest is seeing the transformation – Johnston and team do a damn good job on that. The film has some flaws. It has issues with story and the lack of emotion in some scenes. It is not perfect. However, this movie is entertaining, scary, thrilling, bloody, and fun to watch. The Wolfman never forgets where it came from.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.
