“Wolf Man” follows a family at a remote farmhouse that is attacked by an unseen animal. As the night stretches on, the father begins to transform into something unrecognizable.
A Familiar Idea Without a Clear Purpose
The biggest problem with “Wolf Man” is that it tries to be something it’s not. Leigh Whannell struck gold with “The Invisible Man,” putting a modern twist on a classic Universal Monster by examining a woman tormented by her abusive ex-boyfriend.
He attempts a similar approach here, this time through the lens of fatherhood.
“Wolf Man” spends the first third of its 103-minute runtime examining Christopher Abbott’s Blake, exploring both his childhood and how he raises his own daughter 30 years later. The film touches on generational trauma, and while this perspective is initially intriguing, it gradually loses its impact. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, the film doesn’t have much to say about the themes it introduces early on.
Effective Scares and Visceral Style
“Wolf Man” can take pride in one thing: its whiplash scares. Interest occasionally wanes, but the film consistently finds ways to inject suspense back into the mix. Whether through jarring edits or unsettling imagery, these moments help keep tension high. The movie also doesn’t hold back on the gore, delivering several sequences that actively provoke winces and gasps.
There is also a distinct visual style on display that creates a visceral viewing experience. The film employs techniques such as rotating camera movements and an infrared point of view from the creature’s perspective. These choices generate a disorienting effect that pulls the audience deeper into the chaos and briefly elevates the material beyond its limitations.
Missed Emotional Payoff
While tension remains present throughout the back half of the movie, the outcome is rarely in doubt. “Wolf Man” attempts a couple of twists in its final act, but they are easy to anticipate early on. This only underscores the issues with the sluggish script, which often feels stripped down to its most basic and limited form.
Despite these shortcomings, the movie features solid performances from Abbott, Julia Garner and Matilda Firth, along with effects that genuinely make the skin crawl.
“Wolf Man” succeeds in isolated moments, but the story never fully comes together. At times, it doesn’t even feel like a complete film, particularly due to the lack of emotional payoff in the closing minutes.
Rating: 2 out of 5
