In The Wolfman, loosely based on the 1941 horror classic of the same name, Benicio Del Toro plays Lawrence Talbot who reunites with his estranged father Sir John Talbot (Anthony Hopkins) as he returns to his ancestral home in Victorian England to find out more about his brother’s mysterious murder. With help from his brother’s wife, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt), Lawrence finds a link to a gypsy camp where he gets bitten by a wild beast, which in turn, turns him into a werewolf. Meanwhile, Abberline (Hugo Weaving) of Scotland Yard is investigating Lawrence.
The film is a visual marvel. It is amazing the amount of work that has went into the period details and the Victorian sets to give a beautifully foggy, gothic atmosphere. Director Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park 3) seemed to have made sure there was always something going on in the background, which could’ve gotten in the way of creating any real tension, but for the most part, made the film more immersive. To have this much attention to detail in a monster movie since Francis Coppola’s Dracula is quite refreshing.
Anthony Hopkins’ acting and delivery of lines give the film an extra weight that makes it feel elegant. One can’t help but feel he had a lot of fun playing the role of Lawrence’s father, who is a little more complicated than he first appears. Benicio Del Toro as the lead was an interesting, but welcome choice. There’s something about him that’s a little off, who is not immediately likeable or conventional, nor “dapper” in a British sense, but he is a man with a haunted past, and his character fits perfectly within this genre. As a werewolf, he’s perfect. Emily Blunt is likeable as the semi-love interest, although her role is not a substantial one as it could’ve been in the film. Hugo Weaving playing a detective from Scotland Yard probably wasn’t a huge stretch for him, but he plays his role as only he could play.
So, now, how was the wolf, you ask? I thought the makeup and CG effects of the werewolf looked really cool. I really liked the way it moved and it had a great amount of menace. The transformation scene is reminiscent of American Werewolf in London, but with some improved CG. I had already dug the whole look of the background, so just watching the wolf man effortlessly running across London rooftops is quite a site to behold. I must say I had missed that “classic” look of the werewolf past and it was refreshing to see it again. There’s good amount of gore as expected, but fits well with the essence of the film.
This film marks a welcome return to gothic horror, and I must say I had a lot of fun watching The Wolfman. It has pretty much everything one can expect from the monster movie genre—action, gore, shocks, amazing sets, and cool effects. Andrew Kevin Walker’s (Sleepy Hollow) script, while it has a small twist, doesn’t make any bold or surprising choices, but stays faithful to the genre. After all, this is The Wolfman. The film doesn’t go into any deep psychoanalysis or philosophy, but what it is is a fun, gothic horror flick, helped by great sets and visual flair. I give The Wolfman *** ½ out of **** stars.
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