Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
After a few successful directorial efforts, director Leigh Whannell returns for another creature feature. This time he tackles “Wolf Man”, which follows a couple in a struggling marriage. When the husband’s father passes away, the couple decides to visit his farmhouse for a getaway. But after they get into a car accident, a strange creature attacks their van, leaving the husband wounded. Once they reach the farmhouse, the husband’s physical and mental state start to change. They realize that he has been infected by the mysterious creature, leaving the mother and daughter to defend themselves against the one who once protected them.
Positives:
I’ve always appreciated the creative abilities of director Leigh Whannell. His films often use atmosphere and practical effects to heighten the tense nature of the story. That is true with “Wolf Man” as well. The remote Oregon setting is a great choice to feature a threat like the Wolf Man. It often feels so large and endless that the escape from such a creature feels impossible. The way the trees move in the wind and the tall structure adds a haunting effect which was a nice touch. But when the family is sheltering inside of the farmhouse, it also feels claustrophobic. Since their truck broke down and they have no way to reach the outside world, the tension is elevated as we know they’ll have to defend themselves. There are a handful of effective jump scares within the tight quarter setting which was fun to experience with a crowd.
The film also tries to tackle some interesting subject matter. Within the monster mayhem, Whannell attempts to examine generational trauma and how it can indirectly be passed down even with the best of intentions. He also looks at marriage dynamics in a way that helps audiences understand where both sides are coming from. There are a handful of other topics that are weaved into the storyline too. I enjoyed seeing how this plays directly into the Wolf Man transition so credit to Whannell for being ambitious. The body horror and practical effects may be the strongest component though. Whannell avoids CGI for some gnarly practical effects during the transition from man to Werewolf. These scenes will have audiences squirming for sure.
Negatives:
“Wolf Man” had such potential to be one of the most memorable horror movies of the year. But due to some unusual missteps from Whannell’s writing, the film’s quality dips. With his efforts in the “Saw” franchise and surprisingly effective “Invisible Man” remake, his writing is typically strong. But some poor dialogue and strange story decisions hamper “Wolf Man” from being the story it could have been. I also wish the screenplay chose to focus on one or two themes rather than trying to tackle too much. All of the thematic exploration needed more development. But the film tries to handle too much at once, leaving most of the ideas feeling unfinished within the story. This is disappointing because these interesting ideas could have been a great component if they got the right treatment. Julia Garner’s character isn’t given much to do either. She could have been a great piece within the marriage and protection ideas being explored. But much like the themes, her character is underserved.
Conclusion:
While “Wolf Man” is worth seeing for fans of the genre, its lackluster thematic development puts a stranglehold on how good the movie can be. Performances are good enough but each character could have been given more development to make the themes stronger. Some gnarly practical effects and a tense remote setting help “Wolf Man” cross the finish line. See it at matinee price or wait for streaming but I wouldn’t skip it entirely.