Review
Wolf Man (2025) offers a refreshing take on the classic werewolf tale, with a focus on emotional depth, slow-building tension, and effective body horror. Though it doesn't provide the usual bloodbath you might expect from a monster movie, it succeeds in creating a somber, introspective atmosphere that keeps viewers engaged, even as it sometimes veers into predictability.
The film opens in the early '90s, where we meet a young Blake and his overprotective father living off the grid in the wilderness of Oregon. The duo leads a simple, isolated life, marked by strange occurrences like an encounter with a mysterious wolf-like creature. As Blake’s father warns him about a peculiar illness known as the “Face of the Wolf,” there’s clear foreshadowing for the horrors to come. This early segment sets the tone for a film that's more about internal struggle and dread than external carnage.
Fast forward to present day, and Blake (Christopher Abbott) is now an adult living in the city with his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), and their daughter, Ginger (Matilda Firth). Blake is still haunted by the trauma of his past, with a strained marriage and deep emotional scars. When Blake learns that his father has been declared dead after going missing, he returns to his childhood home with his family, setting the stage for a horrifying reunion with his past.
The pacing is deliberate, and the film takes its time to explore Blake’s slow transformation into the wolf man. While the body horror effects are gruesome and effective his teeth begin to fall out, his hearing becomes supernaturally amplified, and he even starts gnawing on his own arm there’s a lingering sense of sadness as Blake's family watches helplessly. Julia Garner’s portrayal of Charlotte, torn between concern for her husband and the terror of what he’s becoming, is one of the movie's standout performances, and the emotional weight of her character is a major driving force.
One of the movie's most intriguing aspects is how Blake's transformation doesn't rely on the typical full moon trope. Instead, the creature is capable of hunting and shifting at any time, which heightens the unpredictability and danger. It’s a nice subversion of the classic mythos that keeps you on edge. However, the film’s pacing though deliberate can sometimes feel overly predictable. The heavy foreshadowing that comes early on, especially the subtle hints that Blake’s fate is tied to his father’s, makes the narrative feel a bit too safe, robbing some of the tension.
The visual effects are undeniably impressive, especially the practical effects used during Blake's transformation and the brief but thrilling wolf on wolf battle that takes place toward the film's climax. The wolf vision, showing Blake’s amplified senses and loss of comprehension, is a clever way to represent his internal struggle and alienation. It’s here that the film excels in using body horror not just as a tool for shock, but to explore the deep psychological unraveling of a man losing his humanity.
However, the big twist that Blake’s father is revealed to have been the wolf all along does feel somewhat contrived. While it adds another layer to the narrative, it also introduces a sense of inevitability that slightly detracts from the emotional impact. The movie’s thematic focus on legacy and fate becomes clearer in this moment, but it risks feeling like an obligatory twist rather than an earned revelation.
The final sequence, where Charlotte must face the tragic reality of what Blake has become, is poignant. The visual parallels to the opening scene where Blake and his father look out over the mountains—bring the film full circle, but it also emphasizes the sadness of Blake’s transformation, and ultimately, his death. The emotional stakes are clear, but it feels more like a tragic inevitability than a shocking turn.
Verdict:
Wolf Man is a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry into the werewolf genre. It offers a character driven, emotionally charged take on the classic monster myth, with excellent performances, especially from Julia Garner, and a slow-burn approach to Blake’s transformation. While the foreshadowing and predictable narrative elements hold it back from being truly impactful, the film's effective use of body horror, practical effects, and the underlying sadness of the family dynamics makes it a worthwhile watch for those seeking a more introspective monster movie.
If you’re looking for a film that focuses on the internal horrors of becoming a monster and the emotional toll it takes on loved ones, The Wolf Man delivers. But if you’re hoping for a fast paced, action-packed creature feature, you might be left wanting more.
The film opens in the early '90s, where we meet a young Blake and his overprotective father living off the grid in the wilderness of Oregon. The duo leads a simple, isolated life, marked by strange occurrences like an encounter with a mysterious wolf-like creature. As Blake’s father warns him about a peculiar illness known as the “Face of the Wolf,” there’s clear foreshadowing for the horrors to come. This early segment sets the tone for a film that's more about internal struggle and dread than external carnage.
Fast forward to present day, and Blake (Christopher Abbott) is now an adult living in the city with his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), and their daughter, Ginger (Matilda Firth). Blake is still haunted by the trauma of his past, with a strained marriage and deep emotional scars. When Blake learns that his father has been declared dead after going missing, he returns to his childhood home with his family, setting the stage for a horrifying reunion with his past.
The pacing is deliberate, and the film takes its time to explore Blake’s slow transformation into the wolf man. While the body horror effects are gruesome and effective his teeth begin to fall out, his hearing becomes supernaturally amplified, and he even starts gnawing on his own arm there’s a lingering sense of sadness as Blake's family watches helplessly. Julia Garner’s portrayal of Charlotte, torn between concern for her husband and the terror of what he’s becoming, is one of the movie's standout performances, and the emotional weight of her character is a major driving force.
One of the movie's most intriguing aspects is how Blake's transformation doesn't rely on the typical full moon trope. Instead, the creature is capable of hunting and shifting at any time, which heightens the unpredictability and danger. It’s a nice subversion of the classic mythos that keeps you on edge. However, the film’s pacing though deliberate can sometimes feel overly predictable. The heavy foreshadowing that comes early on, especially the subtle hints that Blake’s fate is tied to his father’s, makes the narrative feel a bit too safe, robbing some of the tension.
The visual effects are undeniably impressive, especially the practical effects used during Blake's transformation and the brief but thrilling wolf on wolf battle that takes place toward the film's climax. The wolf vision, showing Blake’s amplified senses and loss of comprehension, is a clever way to represent his internal struggle and alienation. It’s here that the film excels in using body horror not just as a tool for shock, but to explore the deep psychological unraveling of a man losing his humanity.
However, the big twist that Blake’s father is revealed to have been the wolf all along does feel somewhat contrived. While it adds another layer to the narrative, it also introduces a sense of inevitability that slightly detracts from the emotional impact. The movie’s thematic focus on legacy and fate becomes clearer in this moment, but it risks feeling like an obligatory twist rather than an earned revelation.
The final sequence, where Charlotte must face the tragic reality of what Blake has become, is poignant. The visual parallels to the opening scene where Blake and his father look out over the mountains—bring the film full circle, but it also emphasizes the sadness of Blake’s transformation, and ultimately, his death. The emotional stakes are clear, but it feels more like a tragic inevitability than a shocking turn.
Verdict:
Wolf Man is a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry into the werewolf genre. It offers a character driven, emotionally charged take on the classic monster myth, with excellent performances, especially from Julia Garner, and a slow-burn approach to Blake’s transformation. While the foreshadowing and predictable narrative elements hold it back from being truly impactful, the film's effective use of body horror, practical effects, and the underlying sadness of the family dynamics makes it a worthwhile watch for those seeking a more introspective monster movie.
If you’re looking for a film that focuses on the internal horrors of becoming a monster and the emotional toll it takes on loved ones, The Wolf Man delivers. But if you’re hoping for a fast paced, action-packed creature feature, you might be left wanting more.