While there have been some noteworthy releases in January, it tends to be a rather stale month for movies. So, when it was announced that Leigh Whannell was set to direct another Universal Monsters adaptation that would hit theaters at the beginning of the year, audiences could barely contain their excitement.
The Australian screenwriter, director, and actor has earned quite a name for himself over the years, especially among horror movie lovers. In 2020, The Invisible Man was exceptionally well received by critics, and his previous work on franchises such as Saw and Insidious has made him a connoisseur of the horror space.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Wolf Man, which falls short compared to his earlier projects. It’s a forgettable creature feature with a bark far more prominent than its bite.
At the beginning of Wolf Man, we are introduced to Blake (Christopher Abbott). He’s a stay-at-home father who seems fiercely protective of his daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth). We also discover that his relationship with his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), is strained.
When Blake receives a letter informing him that his father has been declared deceased after vanishing years ago without a trace, he ventures to his father’s house to clear out his belongings. Blake views this as the perfect opportunity to travel north with the family and rekindle the romance between him and his wife. After all, some time away from the hustle and bustle of city life may do them good.
Shortly after they arrive in Oregon, their peaceful planned getaway turns into a hellish ordeal when the family is involved in a horrific crash. When Blake attempts to escape through his car window, an unidentifiable beast bites him, and the family soon realizes they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.
Though the setup of Wolf Man shows promise, it doesn’t take long before the apparent direction of the story is glaring viewers in the face. Charlotte feels guilty as a somewhat absent mother. She's been more focused on her career than her home life, and her relationship with Blake has also suffered because of it. When her husband starts turning into a creature of the night, it’s the perfect opportunity for Charlotte to step up and protect her daughter at all costs. It’s all very predictable and uninspired.
Another downside to Wolf Man is the complete lack of chemistry between Abbott and Garner. Though it’s clear early in the story that Charlotte and Blake are experiencing marital problems, they never feel like a real couple. Interactions between the pair intended to leave a lasting impression fail to resonate, as we haven’t established a strong enough emotional connection to them up until that point.
Abbott’s physicality in the role is impressive, but many scenes presented during his transformation are repetitive and unremarkable. Similarly, his abrupt change from human to wolf man feels unearned. Garner is a fantastic actress but is given little to work with when portraying Charlotte. Most of the character’s time is spent watching her husband evolve, yet none of her reactions to such a wild situation seem plausible, nor does she ever seem particularly fearful.
Most of Wolf Man’s runtime is confined to a house, which really limits the film’s scope. There’s not enough character development or conflict to keep things engaging, and the pace becomes painfully stagnant. Though Whannell illustrates some impressive camerawork that showcases the contrasting visionary perspective of the wolf man compared to that of an uninfected human, this is the only real highlight of the feature. Knowing just how talented Whannell is, this is a big letdown, as much of his flair is completely lost here.
Overall, Wolf Man is a lackluster horror flick that fails to demonstrate the outstanding direction and inventiveness we have seen in Whannell’s previous projects. Though it’s too early to call Wolf Man one of the worst horror films of the year, it certainly won't be one of the best, either.