Leigh Whannell follows up his 2020 hit, ‘The Invisible Man,’ with a haunting and visceral creature feature, “Wolf Man”.
The story centers on Blake (Christopher Abbott), a nurturing father who takes his family to rural Oregon to settle his estranged father’s estate, only to confront the same werewolf-like creature he encountered as a child.
As Blake succumbs to his wounds and begins transforming, the film explores the scars parents leave on their children, though it falters in deeply connecting his childhood trauma to the present.
While the dialogue often feels heavy-handed and on-the-nose, Whannell’s mastery of tension and relentless horror shines, delivering chilling set pieces that compensate for the script’s weaker moments, and caused me terrible anxiety.
Abbott’s layered performance anchors the film, which is bolstered by stunning practical effects that depict the werewolf transformation as a grotesque disease in graphic, gory detail reminiscent of David Cronenberg’s The Fly. Julia Garner also brings quiet strength to her role as Blake’s wife, though the chemistry between the leads is lacking.
The final act unleashes unrelenting terror, with inventive cinematography and sound design immersing viewers in Blake’s crumbling psyche. Darkness is as much of a villain as the werewolf itself.
Wolf Man amplifies its fear factor and delivers a wild, nerve-shredding ride. It’s an effective, chilling experience that horror fans won’t want to miss and that will replay in my nightmares for years to come.
In my latest review I discuss the missed opportunities of the screenplay, the stunning VFX work and sound design that enhance the scares and the scene that creeped me out the most.
Letter Grade: B