“the wolfman” film review

I wasn’t really interested in seeing The Wolfman when I first heard about it. Although based on the premise I read a few months ago, it sounded interesting. The trailer helped feed my interest, but not enough to fully sink my teeth into. But then, a friend acquired advanced screening tickets and I was invited as a guest. A free movie pass and the chance to see it in theaters before anyone else? Why the stank not?

The Wolfman if about a werewolf. Big surprise, right? Actually, what I didn’t know before seeing the movie was that it was a remake. This is the kind of remake I’m okay with, since the original was released about 60 years ago and not like, I don’t know… 5? I’m not pointing any fingers, I’m just saying.

Without knowing that, I definitely got the sense of this movie having the elements of a classic horror movie of yesteryear. Obviously not my yesteryear, but a classic horror nonetheless. But with updated special effects, graphics and gore that our generation is used to or even expecting in practically any movie that would probably involve the slashing of body, sharp teeth digging into human flesh, blood galore, and transforming humans into rabid wolves. We want to believe it. And believing is made easier these days so I give them kudos for that.

I haven’t seen the original, but I can only imagine how gruesome that movie could’ve been. And by that I mean it probably wasn’t.

Since this movie is still in theaters, I’m not going to urge anyone to rush out anytime soon. For most people, this is a movie probably best on DVD, and I predict that will come out by Halloween. Just a guess. And I’m not saying this movie is horrible. It isn’t. But it’s not great either. It kept me entertained, but it didn’t keep me guessing. In fact, I wasn’t really scared that often. Amazingly, I wasn’t really expecting it to be. I’m not sure why though.

The “scares” were mostly those cheap OMG-that-was-only-a-dog scares and not the one where it’s really the monster. But that’s how most horror movies are built, right? And I’m not even a scary movie person! There were a few instances that caught me off guard, but not to the point it scared me.

I’m still slightly confused about a major plot point. I figured out a certain secret or mystery of the wolfman, but I couldn’t figure out its motive. I think it was explained, but I think it was just me misunderstanding. Besides that, I wasn’t too crazy about the climatic ending. I knew it was going to happen, it was just a lot cheesier than I expecting it to be. I even predicted “Agent Smith’s” fate. It was a surprise to me that Hugo Weaving was in this movie… and no matter what he’s in, he will always make me think of Smith in The Matrix. At least that movie wasn’t as predictable.

If I sound wishy-washy about this movie, it’s because I am. Like I said, I was entertained but it’s not something I’m interested in seeing a second time. The friend I went with liked it even less. I almost want to blame the seat we got… third row. Last time I say that close, it was for Tranformers 2. A movie I know I would’ve enjoyed more had I had a better seat and not have to literally move my head to check out both sides of the screen or worry about a sore neck at the end of the movie. Needless to say, I survived both movies.

Overall, The Wolfman’s strongest points I think were its actors. I have a bit of a crush on Emily Blunt. I admire Anthony Hopkins. Benicio Del Toro always seems to amaze me in whatever he does. And then there’s Hugo Weaving with his odd face and voice that makes you always want to run away from him. Great actors, great effects, weak story all equal a 3 out of 5 star movie… if that’s how I rated movies. Speaking of rating, it’s rated R for violence and gore. So if you let your kids watch Saw, then this might be a tad bit boring for them until the wolfman shows up.