Cinema Scholars reviews Wolf Man, the first Blumhouse release of the year. The film is directed by Leigh Whannell and stars Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, and Matilda Firth. Universal Pictures is releasing Wolf Man in theaters nationwide on Friday, January 17, 2025.
Introduction
Another year, another full slate of horror goodness from the genre tastemakers over at Blumhouse. Boasting a profit-sharing business model for filmmakers and talent (who have a vested interest in projects), the production company boasts some of the most engaging and lucrative genre releases of the past several years. On deck for their 2025 foray, Jason Blum and company come out swinging with Wolf Man, the much-anticipated latest effort from director Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man).
The film stars Christopher Abbott (Poor Things) and Julia Garner (Ozark) as a young couple who return to their remote Oregon home to reconnect with one another, only to find a twisted bond they could’ve never imagined. While Wolf Man starts as a dramatic slow burner, the film takes a hard left turn and doesn’t stop. A unique story, great gory effects, and top-notch performances make Wolf Man much more than an average monster mayhem.
Synopsis
Blake is an out-of-work writer/stay-at-home dad in the big city. However, a haunting opening scene reveals that Blake grew up in an isolated part of the Oregon forest with his overprotective, borderline-paranoid father. Dad’s relentless prep and training was his way of protecting his son in the vast wilderness surrounding them. Yet strange legends and encounters always made Blake wonder if his father was protecting him from more than just Mother Nature.
Flash forward to Blake’s city life, complete with a successful wife and adoring daughter. Though he seems to have it all, his marriage has been suffering lately. Punctuating his current personal turmoil, Blake gets word that his father, who mysteriously disappeared in the forest years before, has finally been pronounced dead by authorities.
To rekindle their lost spark, his wife, Charlotte, agrees to bring their daughter to Oregon for the summer while Blake sorts out his inherited homestead. As soon as they arrive, however, startling events not only make them question the decision but also trigger a strange transformation in Blake that has the entire family fighting for dear life.
Discussion
From the get-go, an ominous air fills every frame of Wolf Man. The opening as well as the first major scare sequence set things off with a decent bang. However, a good deal of the first and second acts are dominated by slow, baleful scenes. Uneasy dialogue exchanges give way to several quieter moments with little resolution, leaving viewers practically begging for a jump scare or two.
While this might make you wonder where all this is headed, it also provides satisfying contrast to that aforementioned left turn. When the bait and switch finally occurs, the muted, doom-filled vibe flips, and a much more harrowing sequence of events unfolds.
A lot of cool stuff happens in the faster-paced moments. Scenes where the hot breath of the unknown predator gives away its hidden, menacing position pique the imagination of viewers. And terrifically gruesome practical makeup effects are as horrific and effective as they are cringe-inducing.
In other uniquely cool sequences the perspective shifts so the audience can see what the fiend sees with fascinating yet unnerving visual and audio effects. As the story progresses, this distorted vantage becomes increasingly chilling.
Performances
Christopher Abbott is at his quiet brooding best, this time as a doting, overprotective dad. It’s no shock that Abbott handles this part of the role with ease. The surprise comes when his performance transforms right along with his character. While challenging physical work dominates later chapters of the story, Abbott never betrays the glimmer of Blake’s remaining humanity.
As Charlotte, Julia Garner holds down the fort. She captures the balance between a dedicated wife and WTF with an aptly anxious performance. Many a performer might take the opportunity to go over the top in the midst of such madness. But Garner’s controlled take makes her inevitable freakouts really resonate.
Further Analysis
While checking off many genre boxes, Wolf Man still manages to maintain some serious subtext too. There’s obvious commentary on helicopter parenting (validated?!) throughout the film. Changing relationship dynamics with kids in the mix is also an ongoing theme. It’s not just horror, it’s emotionally charged horror.
While there’s not necessarily a succinct message, there’s just enough pathos to catapult the story beyond today’s typical genre fare. It’s more akin to its classic Universal Monster predecessors known for being tragic as well as scary.
Conclusion
All in all, Wolf Man fulfills its promise. The film sets off with a somewhat reserved start and then gains steam just in time for a satisfying payoff. Thoughtful performances, gloriously gory effects, and an emotional thread nicely round out the eerie tale.
Universal Pictures is releasing Wolf Man in theaters nationwide on Friday, January 17, 2025.
