Spoiler-Free
The Wolfman recently hit DVD. This reimagining of the original Lon Chaney Wolfman is faithful in some respects while taking liberties in other areas. This is not an update for modern times; the story still takes place in 19th century England. Nor is it a strict remake, this is a far more violent, animal Wolfman than the original.
The thing that struck me was the visual image of the wolfman himself. This version looks far more like the original than many of the more modern counterparts, such as An American Werewolf in London or The Howling. With no discernable snout, and wearing human clothes, this looks more like a wolf-man than the monstrous wolf-creatures that have been portrayed in big screen werewolf stories for the last thirty years.
Benicio Del Toro plays a dark and brooding Lawrence Talbot with much darkness and brooding. His sunken eyes and sulky voice served well in homage to Lon Cheney and his performance as the original wolfman. Made up as they are and playing in a dark time, Del Toro and the normally lovely Emily Blunt make up the homeliest on-screen couple I’ve seen in years. Anthony Hopkins is just terrific in everything he does. His turn as Talbot’s depressed, emotionally-stunted, grieving father stands out as praise worthy among the performances.
I watched The Wolfman with some reservation, fearing that it would devolve into what passes for modern horror movies – a blood soaked gore-fest. While the movie does have its share of blood and some excessive violence, it isn’t forced or glorified. It works because it flies by fast and serves to underscore the ferocity of the beast that plagues the moors.
The Wolfman is an unpretentious horror movie throwback to the pre-1980s genre, made with 2010 production values and a top-notch cast. If you took a pass on The Wolfman while it was in theaters, it’s worth a look now that it’s on DVD.
