Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Following the success of The Invisible Man in 2020, Writer-Director Leigh Whannell is reviving another beloved monster.
After receiving confirmation of his father’s passing, Blake (Christopher Abbott), a kind father and husband, must travel back to his secluded childhood home deep in the forests of Oregon. His wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) accompany him in packing his father’s belongings. On their journey, the family is attacked by an unidentifiable animal in the forest. They barricade themselves in Blake’s childhood home while the creature prowls the perimeter. As the night goes on, Blake begins acting strangely and slowly transforms into something unrecognizable that puts his family at risk.
Whannell and Co-Writer Corbett Tuck use this creature to tell a domestic drama. It’s centered on the fear fathers have of ruining their children’s lives. The opening of the Film shows the relationship between a young Blake and his tough-loving father. The story then jumps thirty years later to Blake being a father. Blake does everything he can to be the opposite of his dad. He’s patient, apologetic, and playful with Ginger. Abbott is enthralling as this doting father, causing audiences to easily love him. Thus, resulting in what happens to him being all the more heartbreaking. That’s what the Screenwriters do so well, making us care for the monster before he’s a monster. Thus, allowing audiences to be emotionally invested after the transformation.
There have been many adaptations of 1941’s The Wolf Man over the decades. Some are straight retellings while others are werewolf stories. The majority have shown a rapid transformation from man to wolf. Here, the Filmmakers take a different approach. Throughout the night, we watch as Blake — slowly — changes form. First, it’s his hearing. Then his skin. His nails. The hair. Until finally, he’s no longer recognizable. The prosthetic work is incredible. This slow transformation is disquieting to watch, especially through Charlotte and Ginger’s eyes. The two watch the patriarch change from a soft-spoken, caring man to a threatening, frightening creature.
Seasoned Horror fans may come into Wolf Man wanting to be terrified. Depending on their threshold, they may be underwhelmed. Wolf Man leans toward the story of a father transforming into something unidentifiable. However, Whannell delivers a unique and visually stunning cinematic style that delivers chilling delights. It’s one that changes the point-of-view from human to creature and back again. Allowing us to feel the fear of a creature, but also witness how the creature feels. Additionally, Whannell’s wide shots work seamlessly with the lighting design to create dread and suspense in each frame.
Overall, Wolf Man delivers a lot of cinematic flair while creating a domestic drama storyline that allows its talented Cast to shine.
Universal Pictures Canada releases WOLF MAN on Friday, January 17, 2025.
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