The Wolf Man [Review]

What is it about Werewolves?

I’ve been a Werewolf fan for as long as I can remember. Maybe it all started with Little Red Riding Hood—something about a talking wolf seemed fascinating. As I got older, I began to understand the deeper layers behind the werewolf mythos. They can symbolize puberty, our inner animal instincts, or the struggles we face when our own bodies feel out of control. There’s so much storytelling potential in all of that.

But when it comes to werewolf movies, I have to ask: why are so many of them… not great?

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not here to trash your favorite film. But think about it: when was the last time we had a blockbuster werewolf movie? One that launched a hit sequel, franchise, or even sniffed at an Oscar nomination? Sure, classics like The Howling, Wolfen, An American Werewolf in London, and Ginger Snaps come to mind. But what about something from the past decade? Why do filmmakers seem to struggle with nailing this genre?

Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man (2020), was a fantastic, modern reimagining of a classic horror story, framed around a domestic abuse survivor’s journey. Elisabeth Moss’s performance was incredible, capturing the paranoia and fear that come with breaking free from an abuser. The movie made tension out of thin air—literally. A wide-angle shot of an empty room had us all wondering, “Is he there? In the corner? Behind her?” A simple CGI breath was enough to make horror fans hold theirs. And at its core, the movie had a deeply emotional story about reclaiming agency. By the end, every beat felt earned.

That’s why I was cautiously optimistic when The Wolf Man was announced as the follow-up to The Invisible Man. It had all the potential in the world. Originally part of Universal’s ill-fated “Dark Universe” (a shared cinematic universe of the Universal monsters that never got off the ground), this was a chance to modernize the 1941 classic starring Lon Chaney Jr. The original story is simple: a man gets bitten by a werewolf, transforms, and terrorizes a town. It’s a timeless setup, leaving plenty of room to add depth and dimension.

The 2025 version tried. It really did. The plot follows Blake, a stay-at-home dad, who visits his estranged father’s property with his family. A werewolf attack ensues, and Blake starts undergoing hairy, dramatic changes. There’s a subplot about his survivalist dad, some marital tension between Blake and his wife Charlotte, and hints at Blake’s own anger issues. But none of these elements fully develop.

Here’s the thing: the bones of a great movie were there. Imagine a story about a man battling his inherited anger issues while trying to protect his family—both from external threats and his own violent instincts. That could’ve been a powerful, emotional horror story about breaking cycles of generational trauma. But instead, we got something… undercooked.

To be fair, Christopher Abbott gives it his all. He snarls and crouches like a pro. Let’s be real—when doesn’t he deliver a stellar performance? Unfortunately, Julia Garner is utterly wasted in this movie. For an actress with such incredible range (Ozark), her role here is limited to looking confused and dissociated. It’s like the director only gave her one note: “Act like you don’t know what’s going on.”

Visually, the film had its moments. The effects and prosthetics were solid, and what I’ll call the “Wolf-O-Vision” sequences were fun (even though I questioned if it was AI). But even the cinematography stumbled at times. For example, why did the lighting outside make it look like sunrise when the characters were supposed to be waiting for dawn?

Then there’s the dialogue. Lines like, “Sometimes dads scar their kids when they’re trying to protect them from getting scarred,” felt melodramatic without the emotional weight to back them up. Nothing felt earned. It was hard to connect with the characters or care about their struggles.

So, The Wolf Man joins the growing pile of disappointing werewolf films. I wanted to love it, especially as a fan of The Invisible Man. But while it delivered on effects and atmosphere, it lacked the bite, claws, and heart to leave a lasting mark in the horror world.

Here’s hoping the next werewolf movie finally gets it right. Until then, I’ll keep howling for something better.

2/5 Full Moons.