Movie with Abe: The Wolfman

The Wolfman
Directed by Joe Johnston
Released February 12, 2010

Monster movies aren’t supposed to be Shakespeare. The same expectations aren’t in play. Writing and story come second to visual effects and a good chance to scare the hell out of the audience. What matters most is a villain that can truly inspire fear in the hearts and minds of its characters, and by doing so, grip and captivate its audience. Usually it takes a while for the villain to physically appear on screen, so that part of the thrill is not knowing exactly what to expect. This film’s title provides an obvious spoiler about the identity of the monster in question, but that shouldn’t change how frightening the film is.

It’s not the fact that the true form of the villain is known that makes “The Wolfman” a bad film, but rather the lack of anything else to make it good. The period setting was a good way to forgo the safety and comfort of electronics and modernity to make it all the more scary, but that advantage is wasted. The setting instead serves as an excuse for poor dialogue and messy scenery. Despite the presence of the lovely Emily Blunt, the performances from Oscar winners and onetime greats Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro are regrettable. While this isn’t a movie about acting, they contribute negatively to the experience by not using any of their proven talents and phoning in their characters.

“The Wolfman” features excessively cartoonish gore, with multiple fingers being ripped off at once and helpless victims clutching and moaning at their bloody predicament. Instead of being legitimately fearsome and scary, the mauling is played almost for laughs. There are no terrifying moments in the film, and few jump scenes to wake the audience up from the slumber that is induced by viewing the film. The story is remarkably simplistic, and it’s awfully devoid of real content that should contain so much gruesome violence and horror. Instead, it feels like it goes on for age when in fact nothing actually happens. Worse still, there isn’t even a shocking or controversial twist in place, and everything plays out exactly how anyone who casually wandered into the theatre might expect. Any hope of salvation in the film’s latter half or final third should not be held out for because it’s not coming. Don’t fear the wolfman, because there’s nothing to be scared of, except the disappointing reaction you’ll have upon exiting the theatre after seeing this movie.

F

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: The Wolfman

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

The Wolfman – Opening February 12, 2010



This trailer premiered a while ago but now it’s started to pop up everywhere as the release date creeps closer. It’s a period piece that’s being marketed as a horror film but could also be much more than that. One thing which makes it particularly exciting is the extraordinarily impressive cast. Benicio Del Toro really doesn’t make movies all that frequently, and recently he’s been spending lots of time as Che Guevera in Steven Soderbergh’s overlong epic and wasted in the 2007 Halle Berry film “Things We Lost in the Fire.” But before that, he delivered stunning performances in films like “The Usual Suspects,” “Traffic,” and “21 Grams.” This role may not demand as much, but there’s one scene from the trailer which looks like a ferociously good use of his talents. As he’s presumably sitting on trial for his crimes as the Wolfman, he yells that he will kill everyone before rapidly changing into the Wolfman and then bursting out of the chair. Then there’s Anthony Hopkins, a legendary actor who has more than a dozen stellar performances to his name. This role looks like a bit more fun for the honorable Hopkins, who delights at informing Lawrence, Del Toro’s character, that he’s done terrible things. Rising star Emily Blunt has proven that she fits into olden times quite well, and her part as the grieving spouse slash love interest for Lawrence looks to be terrific. Rounding out the cast is Hugo Weaving, unforgettable as Agent Smith in “The Matrix,” in addition to his role in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and as the title character in “V for Vendetta,” here starring as a lawman in pursuit of the Wolfman. The notion of the Wolfman is an intriguing one, and hopefully director Joe Johnston, helmer of such adventure films as “Hidalgo,” “October Sky,” “Jumanji,” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” should be able to tell it in a fresh, creative way. It could be terrifying, as the shots of Blunt hiding behind a tree in the woods indicate, and it should definitely be thrilling. As long as the effects don’t become too corny, this should be a great experience. The trailer is enhanced and quickened by Immediate Music’s “Clash of the Titans.” This one should definitely be exciting – are you looking forward to it?