Re-make of the Lon Chaney/Universal horror classic made in 1941. The story follows a British man (Benicio Del Toro) who returns home to Victorian England from America, only to get himself bitten by a werewolf. Anthony Hopkins plays his unhinged father, and Emily Blunt the love interest.
The make-up effects are by transformation-go-to-man, Rick Baker (Edward Scissorhands, Planet of the Apes, Michael Jackson's Thriller, to name a few). Directed by the man behind Jumanji, October Sky and Jurassic Park III.
This lavish remake of Universal’s 1941 horror classic shifts the action back to 1891, with Scotland Yard’s Inspector Abberline (Hugo Weaving) – who in real-life presided over the Jack the Ripper case – sent to the fictional town of Blackmoor to investigate some mysterious murders. Here we find a haggard-looking Benicio del Toro turning into a vicious R-rated killing machine and lumbering through a beautifully gothic landscape of misty forests and cobwebby hallways.
Pleasingly, Rick Baker’s decidedly retro makeup gives the lupine anti-hero the look of a man in a wolf costume. The CGI is hit and miss, however, and the character is ungainly and uninvolving when he’s bounding across London rooftops. More tangible delights come via Anthony Hopkins as an eccentric father with a few secrets of his own.
There are plenty of lines such as “May God have mercy on his soul”, with a rogues’ gallery of characters including a weedy vicar desperate to destroy the beast and a German psychiatrist administrating ‘cures’ at a mental asylum. It’s this self-awareness that I enjoyed, finding the film more camp than scary.
Possibly there was some intention to examine the idea of the beast within us all but Hollywood helmer Joe Johnston goes for thrills over chills. His over-the-top approach means that The Wolfman is a fun watch.
By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz
Spent the whole movie thinking how good a dark, gore-filled remake of the original Universal WOLF MAN could have been. To waste such a stellar cast on a script this flimsy? Joe Johnston must be barking! I've read this was star Benicio Del Toro's pet (excuse the pun...) project - so maybe blame goes to him for not ensuring a more decent script. This just makes me want to see AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON again - at least that had a sense of humour and proper scares! Entertaining as a throwback to the horror genre of yesteryear, but a disappointment. Unengaging, far from thrilling - yup, a dog's breakfast.
Bad CGI, nothing new, nothing even close to thrill and definitly a let down for 2010 films. I felt like i was watching the old school original.
this isn't that great. wasn't really feeling the action. more gross than anything.
I don't partically like remakes, or horrors but this film is fantastic. The plot and acting is better than it is in the original, special effects is great and a lot more, the film reachs the standards I expect, with Anthony Hopkins and Benecio Del Toro, as two lead actors, nothing can go wrong it seems, some of the violence in this film is bone crunching and a bit too graphic, but none the less, it is is like a parellel line to Hopkin's Silence of the Lambs. It is as impressive as any horror film, it has the suspense of the Excorist and the drama and violence of The Silence of the Lambs it seems that much of this film is developed on the original, other horror films and some original ideas for the film too, a great cast, a good plot, a good director and a great expectation I expect a lot of this film in it's later review and awards ceremonies!!!
You will like this movie if you are a fan of Old fashion type Cult Horror Flicks such as "Dracula", and if you are into the horror gore gender as there is a bit of Blood and guts in this Film. Personlly i was expecting more from this movie, as there wasnt much interesting parts in the movie, was a bit boring and predictable. Still worth a watch if you like Gotchic movie.
The Wolfman avoids what must have been the temptation to update its famous story. It plants itself securely in period, with a great-looking production set in 1891.
In a few years' time, browsing the sale bin at your local video store, you'll be struggling to remember whether you've even seen it.
An uneven tone and the feeling of too many cooks mars the finished product, but there are moments of beauty and real terror.
A remake of a classic horror movie is well acted and atmospheric yet fails to truly engage.
Not bad enough to be considered a camp, guilty pleasure, it's more of a dull, defanged dirge with the reliably intriguing Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins turning in oddly disaffected performances.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 11th Feb 2010.
Release date: February 11th 2010.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
