Horror

The Wolfman

Universal Pictures

Relativity Media

Stuber Pictures

United States of America

English

Română

Benicio del Toro

Anthony Hopkins

Emily Blunt

Hugo Weaving

Geraldine Chaplin

Art Malik

Antony Sher

David Schofield

Cristina Contes

David Sterne

Elizabeth Croft

Simon Merrells

Asa Butterfield

Olga Fedori

Lorraine Hilton

John Owens

Gemma Whelan

Nicholas Day

Clive Russell

Michael Cronin

Max von Sydow

Roger Frost

Oliver Adams

Emil Hostina

Rick Baker

Jessica Manley

Jordan Coulson

Ian Peck

David Keyes

C.C. Smiff

Anthony Debaeck

Waseem Abbas

Julie Eagleton

Kate Dion-Richard

Salo Gardner

Andy Gathergood

Richard Hansell

Sam Hazeldine

Mia McKenna-Bruce

Brigitte Millar

Claude Starling

Karim Theilgaard

Christian Wolf-La'Moy

Mario Marin-Borquez

Emily Cohen

Malcolm Scates

Rob Dixon

Dave Fisher

Barry McCormick

Shaun Smith

Richard James

Jake Nightingale

Debbie Attwell

Piotr Baumann

Peter Paul Burrows

Matilda Fulljames

Rich Goble

Michael Mansbridge

David Orpheus

Panayiota Panteli

Emily Parr

Dianne Pilkington

Robert Roman Ratajczak

Anthony Richard Rowe

John Styles

Branko Tomović

John Whitby

Andrew Kevin Walker

Joe Johnston

David Self

Shelly Johnson

Sian Milne

Dennis Virkler

Rick Heinrichs

Milena Canonero

Priscilla John

Sean Daniel

Walter Murch

Rick Yorn

Phil Harvey

John Dexter

Scott Stuber

Nadia Stacey

Curt Siodmak

Sachin Bangera

Marc Mailley

Ken Petrie

Christopher Assells

Jon Mone

Chris Newlin

Scott Stambler

Alex Gibson

Jon Title

Frank Connor

Karen Baker Landers

Allison Wyldeck

Lori Berlanga

Katie Harlow

Chris Jenkins

Ryan Kavanaugh

Kathy Nelson

Jay Duerr

Frank A. Montaño

Bill Abbott

Shie Rozow

Bill Carraro

Barbara McDermott

Derek Somaru

Lisa Vick

Peter Staubli

Danny Elfman

Per Hallberg

Stratton Leopold

John Bush

Andy Nicholson

Göran Lundström

Peter Dorme

Caroline Fallon

Helen Barrett

Josh Weston

Gabi Brown

Thomas R. Cahill

Roderick Barron

Jonathan Earp

Tim Browning

John Flemming

Ian Townsend

Patric Roos

Brian R. Wells

Alf Tramontin

Darren Quinn

Lesley Hamon

Barrie Gower

Kati Hood

Shari Ratliff

Natasha Bailey

Robert Binnall

John Higgins

Pascal Chappuis

Uxue Laguardia

Suzie F. Wiesmann

Fraser Taggart

Paul Worley

Gary Hymns

Pauline Duvall

Siobhan Lyons

Steve Foster

Tracy Low

Darryl Paterson

Wayne Leach

Anders Langlands

Paul Gooch

John Bohan

Emma Hutton

Jamie Harcourt

David Worley

Julia Newell

Bojana Nikitović

Greg Fisher

Robert Karn

Pamela Goldammer

Robert Worley

Marc Woodcock

Lisa Westcott

Arturo Balseiro

Extended Cut: Proving in fact that The Wolfman is no monstrosity.

The Wolfman is directed by Joe Johnston and adapted to screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker and David Self from Curt Siodmak's original 1941 screenplay. It stars Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving. Music is scored by Danny Elfman and Shelly Johnson is the cinematographer. Plot is set in 1891 and finds Toro as Lawrence Talbot, who upon learning of his brother's grizzly murder, returns to his estranged father's estate in Blackmoor to investigate. Upon arriving he forms an instant bond with his dead sibling's fiancée, Gwen (Blunt), but soon Lawrence finds himself mired in a world of lycanthropy and family secrets.

It had a much publicised troubled production, with a director switch, numerous release date changes and enforced cuts to the running time, sitting atop of this particular iceberg. With that it mind, film is arguably better than it had any right to be. What is now readily available is an extended cut of the film where some 17 minutes of footage have been put back into the story. Footage cut originally to foolishly speed up the moment when the first transformation from man to wolfman arrives. Is the extended cut a far better movie than the trimmed theatrical version? The answer is resounding yes it is. It still contains flaws, but now the narrative is stronger and crucially by waiting much longer for the first "big change scene", tension and anticipation now exist where previously it didn't. 

In spite of some modern day advancements for this 21st Century wolfman - 
excessive speed for the wolf - creature smack down finale - Johnston's movie is very faithful and respectful of the 1941 original. Which is perhaps not surprising since the weight of Universal is backing this remake of one of their original classic monsters from the 30's and 40's. But it's nice to see that a remake keeps the things that made the original so beloved. Gothic texture is rich, none more so than with the mist/smog shrouded village, while the tortured sadness that permeated Lon Chaney's take on Larry Talbot back in 1941, is perfectly essayed by del Toro this time around. 

The creature design itself cleaves close to the original, with Rick Baker and Dave Elsey picking up the Academy Award for Best Makeup for their excellent efforts. Fans of shred and gore are also well served here, with Johnston (The Rocketeer/Jumanji) showing a keen eye for action construction. An attack at a Gypsy camp and a bloody rampage through a bus are the stand outs, while an asylum sequence is also not to be sniffed at. Chuck in the murder mystery element, and the intriguing father and son axis, and it's a film that has more to it than merely being a CGI popcorn piece. Even Elfman's score fits neatly into the period setting. 

Problem wise it comes down to Blunt and Weaving being under used, and Hopkins veering dangerously close to over hamming the omelette, yet all remain strong in characterisations. Toro, though, is not, as some have suggested, miscast. Already lupine like before transformation, he plays it perfectly troubled and brooding like. Talbot has inner demons and unanswered questions in his past, a past he has tried to shred but finds he now must confront those demons. The onset of lycanthropy serving, one feels, as a metaphor for his personal torment finally being unleashed. Toro nails it with an excellent and subdued portrayal, even if the choice of hair style leaves much to be desired. Worth a mention as well is Shelly Johnson's photography, where nice atmospheric visuals complement the tone and period flavour of the piece. 

More homage than outright horror, but with a little something for everyone interested in Horror/Gothic/Mystery type movies, The Wolfman in extended form is an enjoyable enough experience. 7/10

Benicio Del Toro Transforms Into A Werewolf - Extended Preview

The Wolfman (2010) Original Trailer [FHD]

Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins Fight Scene

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The Wolfman

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Cast

Benicio del Toro

Anthony Hopkins

Emily Blunt

Hugo Weaving

Geraldine Chaplin

Art Malik

Antony Sher

David Schofield

Cristina Contes

David Sterne

Box office

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