Wolf Man

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As mentioned in my recent 'Nosferatu' review, creating a cinematic universe entirely of popular characters is difficult unless you're Marvel. Nowhere was this more evident than in the "Dark Universe," which both begins and ends with 'The Mummy' ('17). One can read that review for more on that, but I think we all know how badly the "Dark Universe" failed enough to make cinematic history. However, I am glad that even though it failed, Universal has not given up on the idea of Universal Monster remakes.

Beginning with 'The Invisible Man' ('20), which was also directed by this film's director, Leigh Whannell, probably most notable as Specs in the 'Insidious' films, 'The Wolfman' carries on the tradition. The idea is to take the name and completely reimagine it to be something different and more modern. 'Invisible Man's case involved a suit that could make someone invisible. This film's case involves a contagious disease that the local natives speak of, known as "Ma'iingan Odengwaan," or "Face of the Wolf."

With the slight adjustment of it being a disease, however, truth be told, this is still your standard werewolf fare, involving infection through bites and scratches, but without the supernatural angle. It all starts some time in the past with a father-son hunting excursion in their own, beautiful back yard of wide-open spaces, where Grady Lovell (Sam Jaeger) and son, Blake (Zac Chandler) encounter a bipedal wolf creature in the woods. SOme time later, they become estranged from each other, due to Grady's strictness and overall mean streak.

Thirty years pass, and Blake (now Christopher Abbott) receives a notice about his father's recent passing and a key to his childhood home. Currently, Blake is feeling things slipping with his loved ones. His workaholic wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), doesn't have enough time for their daughter, Ginger (Matilda Firth). Meanwhile, although very close with her father, Ginger occasionally has to deal with his temper, causing him to constantly check it, as he doesn't want to become like his father. With things getting a bit stressful, Blake decides to treat his family to a vacation at his old house.

Of course, this is the part of the movie where I almost roll my eyes at the set-up of a family heading to a secluded place for a vacation because it's always generally the same in horror movies. This title is no exception, and it's average, but it does do a thing or two that I can appreciate. The first thing is that the action starts before they even get to the house, whereas usually, the family has a moment to get comfortable before having things ruined. This movie acts more like 'Living Dead,' in which the house acts more like the sanctuary against what's hunting them.

The rest of the film is a bottle film situation in which this family is working against the strange, wolf-like man-creature that's hunting them, but with one exception: the creature has scratched Blake. Soon, Charlotte and Ginger find themselves nursing whatever Blake is suffering from, but with the unpredictability of what may happen to him. Despite saying that, however, it's all predictable, and I see why it has a highly average reception. It's a film not without its moments, but it does make one miss the classic take on things

While I can appreciate the changes they try here, in the end, one can see this as something as simple as a home invasion thriller, but with "wolf men." I hope to see Whannell try more of these, because I enjoy them, conceptually. Especially since they are stand-alone titles, and there's no "universe" here, no sequel has to worry about connecting. Although 'Invisible Man' and 'Wolf Man' are by no means perfect, or even that wonderful, I very much appreciate the idea of going back to basics of reimagining, and it's living proof that not everything needs a whole universe behind it.

3/5

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