Wolf Man Review

By: Myriam Akbar

I’d be lying if I said that I was anticipating this year’s Wolf Man remake and that’s not due to a dislike of remakes. Despite mostly being excited for new projects and unique concepts, I’m quite the fan of them. It’s like being transported to a parallel universe within the plot lore of a film and when it’s something I’m already a fan of, this is an exciting experience. I’m drawn to the level of creativity that is used in revision when altering the genres, character personalities, plot points, moods, tones etc. However because creature features are one of my least preferred sub-genres, I wasn’t planning on watching. Desperately needing a theater outing, I decided to give it a chance anyway because compared to other monsters – I like werewolves. While I’m not personally a fan of the Universal Picture Monster Franchise (I have nothing negative to say — just not for me), I understand and respect its historical impact on the horror genre. Because this revisits a beloved 1941 film — it truly set itself up for scrutiny and oh my is there a lot of buzz.

Directed by Leigh Whannel, Wolf Man follows a family who goes on vacation to the woods where they are attacked by a beastly humanoid-creature. Similar to that of many other films in the werewolf category, the subtext of the plot explores uncontrolled aggression and the repercussions of such behavior. Both parents are struggling with their emotional and mental health, as do many adults under stress. Also common, this starts to bleed into the family dynamics and negatively impact the child’s well-being. From the opening scene of the film, the audience is shown how the themes involving parenting correlates to the dangers of the woods. It’s also directly connected to Blake’s (the father) childhood and trauma, mirrored in his parenting style with his own daughter. The subtle yet clever juxtaposition between the mysterious and unpredictable nature of the forest versus the busy and chaotic city life works so well. It demonstrates the outside forces that create a never ending responsibility of keeping one’s child safe. However, it also depicts the emotional and mental labor of trying to keep it together in the process. To both spend quality time and find closure, the family visits the location where Blake’s father lived before his disappearance. The action begins when they arrive and find themselves under attack.

Without touching on the remaining plot details, I want to discuss some aspects that viewers have been discussing. Let’s start with the one that I find the most unexpected — the origin and nature of transformation in the film. Personally the chosen route wasn’t an issue for me, but it was for many fans of the original film and that’s about all I can say without spoiling it. It wasn’t until I started writing a werewolf script myself that I researched the various causes/origins of werewolves explored in mythology, literature, and film. I found the many versions fascinating and think most of the causes could be used in an impactful way. On the other hand, I do understand how that could be crucial for die-hard fans. One negative critique I agree with is that the setting and mood is not Gothic enough. The in-the-woods setting has done a lot for the horror genre but it’s a space that I would prefer to see writers step out of. It’s so overplayed that it has almost lost its spooky essence. Though much of the film is dim and shadowy, it didn’t appear Gothic cinematically. I think a modern city with Victorian architecture would have worked better. Although by nature the woods is full of mystery and suspense, the atmosphere lacked this because of the plot predictability. I also think the underwhelming nature of transformation (in terms of gore) was a contributing factor. I was surprised to see that the lack of blood, violence, and disturbing graphics wasn’t the main complaint. Often with horror films, the first negative response is that it wasn’t scary enough. While Wolf Man doesn’t come to mind when I think of frightening cinema, I understand the fear of losing control and making unforgivable decisions. The reason Blake hadn’t seen his father was because his upbringing caused a strain in their relationship. We see the potential of this generational curse being passed on with his own child and marriage. The metaphorical use of werewolves in art isn’t only about the aggression perceived by others and inflicted upon them. It also examines the internal experience of transformation; seeing yourself turn into a person that you don't want to be but having to accept that there’s no going back – accepting the new you. 

Another negative critique that I saw was that there isn’t a clear depiction of the issues going on in the marriage. This paired with the emotional reactions of the wife in certain scenes, confused some viewers. As I watched, I interpreted it as intentional script-wise. These choices force the audience to analyze the subtext and not rely on visuals. I believe the thematic concerns tackle emotional intelligence and the lack thereof, explaining why characters react the way that they do. Both parents have underlying, unhealed childhood trauma that they’re struggling with in the midst of trying to be the best parents that they can be. Blake and his daughter have a running inside joke about her being a mind-reader. In situations like this, it’s common for children to find themselves in this role. They’re not even old enough to comprehend their own emotions, yet they find themselves trying to fill in the blanks regarding what their parents are feeling. We as an audience also have to do this, piecing together what we can to better understand the entirety of the film. These script choices allow space for the unknown, which contributes to the overall heartbreaking essence of ending. It proves that it’s up to oneself to gain emotional awareness and regulation, in order to break generational curses – like aggression in the home.

If you’re looking to watch a creature feature that is scary and gory, this one more than likely won’t be for you – although there were some great jump scares. I watched it in 4D and ended up spilling my popcorn a couple of times. However if you like emotionally charged stories, you might be moved like myself. I was thoroughly captivated by the family’s emotional range and compassion, instantly caring about their survival. I also think if you appreciate the werewolf category, you will see the magic behind this one. Both modern and meaningful, I suggest watching in theaters – 4D if you can!