Universal Pictures
www.thewolfmanmovie.com
The recent release, The Wolfman is a remake of the 1941 classic of the same name. When the word remake is used, it is not a new aged remake bringing the werewolf myth to the present day, but once again set in the 1800’s.
The main man of the film is Benicio del Toro. His character, a travelling actor by the name of Lawrence Talbot returns to his childhood home when his brother goes missing, latter found militated. Refusing to leave until the truth behind his brother’s death is resolved, he finds himself in a world where the werewolf legend comes to life and as a result must fight to save himself, his father and his brother’s other half.
Imagine the fear and shock you experienced upon first seeing films such as Werewolf in London and Paris and you will have some degree of understanding of how this film will make you feel; especially in regards to the first time you see the human/werewolf transformation. The opening instantly grips you attention with the first killing by the werewolf, no long dragged out tales just instant werewolf activity, which was appreciated. The next hour or so zooms past with murders or more precisely mutilations of bloody corpses, arms ripped from bodies, insides shredded and throats torn out…which is what you would expect from a film about werewolves! However it is the last half of the film that seems on drag on a bit. Once the identity of the werewolf is established, police are on a wolf hunt and don’t seem to be getting very far in capturing the beast. It gets to the point where you just wish the concluding climax would begin; when it does, those minutes you were beginning to bore simply fade away and present a fight to the death.
As you would expect there are some very vicious killings, some gruesome images and bloody visions in the film, which if you are a lover of horror such as werewolves and creatures of the night you will be thankful for as it give the film so much depth and keeps you eyes glued to the screen. Anthony Hopkins is memorable for his role of Hannibal Lecter and will likely achieve a similar status as Sir John Talbot, Lawrence’s father as well as an unexpected player in the werewolf tale. Alongside Benicio del Toro as his son, there is a shaky relationship that is bought to an end, in more ways than one.
The Wolfman may not have been adapted to a more present day setting, which is typical of many remakes, but it will certainly leave you feeling satisfied.
Michelle Moore