Empire's The Wolfman Movie Review

The Wolfman
Del Toro gets in the middle of a Chaney reaction

Plot
Actor Lawrence Talbot (del Toro) returns to the stately home where he grew up after the death of his brother. His brother’s fiancée, Gwen (Blunt) and father (Hopkins) await him there – and something rather furrier and more dangerous besides.

Review

Browse more images »

It was March 2006 when Universal announced a remake of the classic Lon Chaney-starring Wolfman. And here, almost four years later, is the result. Through a pre-production change of director, reshoots and delays so long that even James Cameron’s long-postponed Avatar preceded it, this strain of lycranthropy has persevered. Still, it’s doubtful whether this bears any resemblance to the script that went into production. The unfortunate Lawrence Talbot’s transformation into a wolfman isn’t the only mutation afflicting this film.

The problem is tone. It’s clear, in cinematographer Shelly Johnson’s atmospheric visuals and Benicio del Toro’s subdued performance, that this film was once a restrained horror, almost a straight family drama that happened to have a werewolf in it. It’s also clear that someone, at some point, decided to splatter buckets of gore – and more than a few stray limbs – over that film in the hope of bringing in teenage gorno aficionados. While the frayed plot strands have been neatly knotted together to ensure that it still makes sense – by no means a given in films as delayed as this – there’s nevertheless a jarring shift at each change of gear.

So we have a few good action set-pieces – the attack on a gypsy camp, a transformation and chase through the streets of London – alongside some creepier mist-draped moments in the woods, and valiant attempts at squeezing character development in among it all. The pieces largely work, but they never work together – rather like the wolfman’s transformation. While the film’s commitment to the man-in-suit model of special effects is in keeping with the filmmakers’ obvious love of the original, with werewolf supremo Rick Baker delivering an impressively mobile result, the mixture of CG transformation scenes and the furry prosthetics that result never rings true.

The cast are better, but their performances show the effects of the chopping and changing. Anthony Hopkins’ eccentric and sinister Lord Talbot would have offered welcome colour to a more restrained film, but here is too broad to fit next to the tortured pairing of del Toro’s Lawrence and Emily Blunt’s grieving Gwen, while at the same time overshadowed by the violent mayhem around him. It’s left to Hugo Weaving’s Inspector Abeline to hit the right note between cynicism, fear and adventure – but he appears too little to hold the film on course.

Verdict

Reviewed by Helen O'Hara

Write Your Review
To write your review please login or register.

Your Reviews

Average user rating for The Wolfman

RE: boring bollocks
Watched this last night and I thoroughly enjoyed it for all its flaws. Great cinematography, score and performances from Del Toro, Weaving and Blunt made it a very enjoyable watch. Yes, there were alot of cliches thrown in but that should be expected from a B movie remake. The biggest disappointment for me was Hopkins' performance. He bumbles his way through the film with 'erms' and 'errrs' in every sentence and has no conviction in anything he says. Alot has been said on here ... More

Posted by MuckyMuckMan at 09:04, 20 September 2011 \| Report This Post



boring bollocks
Awful film. ... More


Posted by tysmuse at 22:14, 29 August 2011 \| Report This Post



boring bollocks
Awful film. ... More


Posted by tysmuse at 22:14, 29 August 2011 \| Report This Post



RE: Soooo close!
The Wolfman I'd been put off watching this by some scathing reviews, but considering the director (Joe Johnston) came onto the project at a really late stage, I think he made a watch-able, if not great, updated old-school Hammer-ish style monster movie. The werewolfy bits were suitably werewolfy, visually it looked very stylish and atmospheric, the effects and gory bits are well done, and although it clearly had a less than properly developed/good script, I actually found it reason... More

Posted by KeithM at 23:34, 02 May 2011 \| Report This Post



RE: Soooo close!
L: Radical_Duck Uneven is probably the best word to describe this film-the romance is inconsistent and strangely motivated as is some of the characters; but it has some great moments such as the parts in the London Asylum. For those who have yet to watch it, watch the extended cut-it explains a lot more and is generally better. !! I agree with you it is really great moments and I want to watch more wolf movies... ... More


Posted by greyan at 12:29, 24 January 2011 \| Report This Post



RE:
t down and watched having got on DVD for less than a fiver and well worth it. Love the original and this has faith in the original 'feel' and the cinematography is strong, cannot understand the hatred for Hopkins' role, plays a blinder in the build to the 'truth' of the story. Solid SFX frankly, wanting to keep true to the 40's feel while delivering suitable horror and gore for a modern audience. Blunt was amazing, and Weaving steels every scene he's in. Very good three star fi... More


Posted by JIm R at 22:15, 16 January 2011 \| Report This Post




Good. ... More


Posted by reminn at 12:07, 03 November 2010 \| Report This Post



I thought it was brilliant!
We need more werewolf movies.... ... More


Posted by Cyberleader at 16:41, 28 October 2010 \| Report This Post



I thought it was brilliant!
We need more werewolf movies.... ... More


Posted by Cyberleader at 16:41, 28 October 2010 \| Report This Post



The Wolfman
Tales of the werewolf have always been an intriguing component of supernatural legend. What draws so many people to write stories and make movies about the beast is how it seems to represent the inner monster so many people struggle with, as well as their most primal desires. Filmmakers have had a blast with the creatures, showing their inner struggle, contrasting them with the more elegant vampires, and of course, letting them loose to create a good old bloodbath. So that might be one rea... More


Posted by McGeesJabberwock at 18:51, 26 September 2010 \| Report This Post



Soooo close!
Uneven is probably the best word to describe this film-the romance is inconsistent and strangely motivated as is some of the characters; but it has some great moments such as the parts in the London Asylum. For those who have yet to watch it, watch the extended cut-it explains a lot more and is generally better. ... More


Posted by Radical_Duck at 21:58, 21 September 2010 \| Report This Post



I'm lycan this alot...
The Wolfman (2010) It's not cool but it is good. Joe Johnstone's remake of the 1941 horror classic was a box-office bomb; Made on a budget of $150 million, the film managed to scrape back a peasy-assed $140 million at the cinemas (that's worldwide, mind). The film seemed cursed (pun, as always, intended) before it's release as stories of directorial changes and production delays held the film up. Upon release the film met indifferent reviews and quickly disappeared from public conscience; ... More


Posted by ronnie barko at 13:24, 07 September 2010 \| Report This Post



Almost excellent
Starts strongly but goes awry around the halfway mark before ending on a flat, predictable note. A shame, because the actors are great, as are the FX and there are a couple of brilliant scares. Watch it late at night with the sound up. ... More


Posted by Caster at 12:39, 08 August 2010 \| Report This Post



Almost excellent
Starts strongly but goes awry around the halfway mark before ending on a flat, predictable note. A shame, because the actors are great, as are the FX and there are a couple of brilliant scares. Watch it late at night with the sound up. ... More


Posted by Caster at 12:39, 08 August 2010 \| Report This Post



RE: Wolfman
Perplexing. Beautifully designed, gorgeously photographed, fantastic performances, wonderful effects, but a hackneyed story. And so it is boring and dull. I can't explain it. Something went seriously wrong with this one. Imagine a director with a singular vision corraling all those elements ruthlessly and standing up to the studio, this was so depressing in that the elements which could have elevated it to a classic are all on show, but they just lie there dying, strangled by a c... More

Posted by gooner_no1 at 22:21, 06 August 2010 \| Report This Post



RE: Wolfman
Will Smith playing James Bond? ... More

Posted by UTB at 13:02, 06 August 2010 \| Report This Post



RE: Wolfman
I don't rate it at all but it's mostly down to the ludicrous central casting. Yes I know he was a key player in getting this made but that doesn't change the fact he was all wrong. What's next? Jackie Chan playing Robin Hood? ... More

Posted by The Hooded Man at 12:04, 06 August 2010 \| Report This Post



RE: Wolfman
possibly one of the worse films i have ever seen, was gonna give up after half an hour, just moaned my way through it, came to last half hour and i turned it off, an insult to my intelligence, woefully bad ... More

Posted by kargon at 10:57, 06 August 2010 \| Report This Post



Wolfman
I actually liked it. Good effects, good story. Extended cut is more gorey and violent. ... More


Posted by lynnshep at 20:27, 10 July 2010 \| Report This Post



Wolfman
I actually liked it. Good effects, good story. Extended cut is more gorey and violent. ... More


Posted by lynnshep at 20:27, 10 July 2010 \| Report This Post



RE: No Bite
I think this is his best performance after the Magnum Gold advert. lol No but seriously, I love Del Toro: Che, Fear and Loathing, it's all good. But in this, he just looked tired, like he slept on the set, woke up and started acting. ... More

Posted by Edward Nygma at 12:32, 03 July 2010 \| Report This Post



RE: No Bite
L: Marwood Indeed, Del Toro was a driving force in making this. The idea of him playing British gentry was gotten around by the backstory having him sent away at a young age, it's not in the film but apparently after his asylum stay he goes to live with an aunt in America and his acting eventually makes his accent a bit all over the place. his is actually covered in the Extended Cut, which is the only version I've seen. Maybe that's why I thought more highly of it, since it actually ... More

Posted by UTB at 12:24, 03 July 2010 \| Report This Post



RE: No Bite
Indeed, Del Toro was a driving force in making this. The idea of him playing British gentry was gotten around by the backstory having him sent away at a young age, it's not in the film but apparently after his asylum stay he goes to live with an aunt in America and his acting eventually makes his accent a bit all over the place. I thought Del Toro was fine, not outstanding but it was a quiet and contemplative performance. I saw it as Lawrence's previous "mental health" problems have ... More

Posted by Marwood at 16:28, 02 July 2010 \| Report This Post



RE: No Bite
Got to agree with the last 2 posters. Del Toro was ace and yeah, I think he was the guy who got the thing running. I also largely agree with Marwood. I don't see why the film is slated so heavily. OK, it wasn't brilliant and as a fan of the original, I was a little dissapointed, but it was a lot better than response led me to believe. Although, they should have kept the silver knifey cane in! ... More

Posted by Invader_Ace at 15:23, 02 July 2010 \| Report This Post



RE: No Bite
L: The Hooded Man I have to say Del Toro was a spectacularly bad choice for this film. He didn't seem remotely interested and delivered most of his lines as if he really couldn't be bothered. I don't see why he was cast as a member of the British gentry other than he was a big name American actor, was Arnold Schwarzenegger not available? thought Del Toro was perfectly cast. He looks like a wolf before make-up. He's not exactly box office gold, either, so I'm not sure why you think... More

Posted by UTB at 12:54, 02 July 2010 \| Report This Post



Next Page

The WolfmanDel Toro gets in the middle of a Chaney reaction

The Wolfman
Del Toro gets in the middle of a Chaney reaction