“Wolf Man” Movie Review
“Wolf Man” Movie Review : A Painful Misstep in Horror Cinema: Blake Lovell believes a family trip to rural Oregon to sort through his deceased father’s belongings is a chance for a fresh start. It’s a break from the urban grind, an opportunity to mend his strained marriage, and a way to reconnect with nature. “It would be good for us,” he insists.
But this is a Blumhouse horror film titled Wolf Man, so naturally, things don’t go according to plan. Far from rejuvenating his family, Blake’s journey spirals into chaos, much like the film itself. This reboot of a classic monster tale stumbles in nearly every way imaginable, delivering a muddled, uninspired, and often laughable experience.
A Horror Film Without the Horror
Instead of delivering spine-chilling scares, Wolf Man falters with a sluggish pace and cheap sentimentality. Its predictable script twists and lackluster creature design strip the film of any genuine terror. What should have been a suspenseful survival story instead feels like an exercise in tedium, leaving viewers more bored than frightened.
The film stars Christopher Abbott as Blake, a man haunted by his father’s survivalist teachings. His dad, who had an obsession with resilience and mortality, once ominously declared, “It’s not hard to die. It’s the easiest thing in the world.” These memories resurface when his father is officially declared dead, 30 years after disappearing into the wilderness.
Unfortunately, the promising premise of a family grappling with unresolved trauma is squandered by clumsy storytelling. Writer-director Leigh Whannell, known for The Invisible Man, co-writes this story with Corbett Tuck, attempting to weave themes of overprotection and inherited legacies into the narrative. However, the resulting message is murky at best, leaving viewers scratching their heads instead of clutching their seats in fear.
A Slow Start to an Underwhelming Payoff
The Oregon wilderness, depicted here by New Zealand’s scenic landscapes, provides the backdrop for the supposed horror. But rather than diving into the terror early on, the film spends an inordinate amount of time on domestic drama. By the time the promised “Wolf Man” makes his presence known, the audience’s patience has already worn thin.
When the creature finally does appear, its impact is dulled by uninspired direction. The filmmakers lean heavily on eerie sound effects rather than delivering visually compelling scares. A pivotal scene involving an attack through a doggie door falls flat, marking one of the movie’s most disappointing moments.
Body Horror That Fails to Impress
As the narrative unfolds, Blake succumbs to the Wolf Man’s infection, undergoing a transformation that leans heavily on body-horror tropes. Sweaty, mute, and riddled with grotesque physical changes, Blake’s metamorphosis is more pitiable than frightening. One unintentionally comedic element involves the character experiencing hair loss—perhaps the first Wolf Man to seemingly advocate for Rogaine.
Julia Garner, playing Blake’s wife, is reduced to a one-dimensional character whose primary role is to alternate between crying and screaming. Meanwhile, their precocious daughter, portrayed by Matilda Firth, asks painfully obvious questions like, “What’s happening?” and “What’s wrong with Daddy?” These moments feel less like genuine character reactions and more like filler dialogue to move the plot along.
A Monster That Lacks Bite
The titular Wolf Man is kept largely out of sight, a decision that might have worked if the creature’s rare appearances packed a punch. Instead, the creature design and its scenes of attack are laughably underwhelming. The external threat of the Wolf Man is mirrored by Blake’s internal struggle to retain his humanity, but both storylines fail to deliver a satisfying or coherent resolution.
As the family’s ordeal reaches its climax, the audience is left feeling as drained as the characters. Blake’s daughter sums it up when she says, “Mom, he wants this to be over.” By then, viewers are likely to agree wholeheartedly.
Final Thoughts
Wolf Man is a disappointing addition to Blumhouse’s horror catalog, squandering its potential with clunky storytelling, poor pacing, and a lack of genuine scares. Its attempts to reboot a classic monster fall flat, leaving audiences yearning for the days when the Wolf Man was a truly terrifying figure.
Rating: No stars out of four.
Runtime: 103 minutes.
Rated R for bloody violence, grisly images, and language.
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