Wolf Man is the newest horror film from Leigh Whannell, who’s recognized for horror hits together with Insidious, Saw, and most just lately, his adaptation of the Universal Monster film The Invisible Man. Wolf Man was certainly one of my most anticipated horror films of 2025, and I’m happy to say that Whannell has delivered as soon as once more, with a surprisingly heartfelt story that takes us on a horrifying journey of grief and loss.
These themes are current all through the entire film, and it wastes no time in throwing us straight into the motion after a household – mother and father Blake (Christopher Abbott) and Charlotte (Julia Garner), and their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) – are attacked by a creature throughout a full moon. The household find yourself barricading themselves into their remoted farmhouse hoping to guard themselves from the hazard that lurks exterior – however unknowingly, they’ve inadvertently locked hazard inside with them.
Blake’s physique begins to deteriorate and rework into one thing monstrous, confronting the viewer with horror that’s each bodily and psychological. Much like The Substance, our favourite physique horror of 2024, it would not draw back from the gory element and physiological trauma of a human being metamorphosing into one thing completely inhuman . Expect nails ripping off, a jaw being damaged, and bones transferring – and it sounds as dreadful because it appears, because of a sound design that leaves nothing to the creativeness, and which actually elevates the entire film. And but, as horrific as it’s to witness, it is the psychological points of Blake’s transformation that scared me probably the most. The lack of an individual’s identification is a recurring theme throughout many physique horrors; it’s maybe captured finest in the way in which that Jeff Goldblum’s scientist slowly loses his thoughts as he loses his humanity in The Fly, and in Wolf Man Whannell approaches a equally traumatic metamorphosis by means of a really sympathetic lens.
Without giving an excessive amount of away, Wolf Man makes use of some intelligent POV shifting so we get to expertise Blake’s transformation by means of each human and wolf’s eyes, with the latter making for some significantly distressing scenes. As he alters right into a ferocious wild animal, Blake can not perceive his terrified spouse and daughter., every little thing is extra heightened. Their lack of ability to speak cleverly mirrors Blake and Charlotte’s already strained relationship.
The purpose of a the unique Universal Monster films was to be scary, and the creature within the newest Wolf Man adaptation definitely is. There are some efficient bounce scares right here, once more thanks partially to the sound design, that are finest skilled on a giant display, although some would possibly argue that the film is simply too reliant on the bounce. I’m inclined to agree – and for me the psychological points of the story are simply as horrifying if no more so.
The creature design did appear to divide audiences when teasers for Wolf Man have been first launched, and whereas I do assume it may have been a bit extra, properly, wolf-like in locations, no horror film has to this point actually managed to nail the werewolf, and any shortcomings on this division are simply made up for by Abbott’s efficiency as a person dropping each his personal humanity and the individuals he loves. I can simply forgive some slightly-off particular results when a narrative is as wealthy and thought-provoking as this, proving that typically uncooked, human emotion is the scariest factor of all. All three of the lead actors are unbelievable, however 10-year-old Matilda Firth deserves a particular shoutout for the way in which wherein she skilfully navigates the terrifying, darkish, jump-filled panorama of Wolf Man, displaying a confidence and maturity approach past her years. Considering I’m approaching 30 and I watched a number of this by means of my fingers, she’s formally braver than me.
Wolf Man is kind of a approach to begin 2025, and whereas January just isn’t sometimes the season for horror, it is already set the bar excessive for scarier entries among the many new films we’re wanting ahead to this yr. You’ll need to catch it within the theater for the perfect expertise – however you would possibly need to be sure there’s not a full moon that evening, because it may make for a nerve-jangling stroll dwelling.
