WOLF MAN is a 2025 supernatural horror film directed and co-written by Leigh Whannell. A reboot of The Wolf Man (1941), Jason Blum serves as a producer through his Blumhouse Productions banner.
Family man Blake relocates from San Francisco to Oregon with his workaholic wife Charlotte and daughter Ginger after inheriting his childhood home, following the mysterious disappearance and presumed death of his estranged father. At the farmhouse, the family is attacked by a werewolf that claws Blake's arm. They barricade themselves inside the home, but soon Blake begins to transform, jeopardizing the safety of his wife and daughter.
The cast includes Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, Matilda Firth, Sam Jaeger, Benedict Hardie, Ben Prendergast, Zac Chandler, Beatriz Romilly, and Milo Cawthorne.
WOLF MAN made its debut in theaters January 17th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.
I’m honestly not quite sure what I was expecting with WOLF MAN and although it is a bit of a mixed bag, I left the theater feeling pretty good about what I just watched. I am always excited for a film with an R-rating, and they did not hold back here. WOLF MAN is never boring which I appreciated, and it also has a big focus on the body horror element so I would prepare yourself if that makes you squeamish. Now I doubt that is the case considering you likely would not be seeing a movie like WOLF MAN if you were sensitive to a little blood and gore, but you never know.
The film is absolutely gorgeous at times with some great shots of rural Oregon, but the majority of the film is very dark which is the overall feel of the film. WOLF MAN does have a powerful emotional element centered around family and the ability to protect those we love. I liked the story overall but I did have some issues with the screenplay which I will touch on later in the review.
The cast was a big draw for me and I was pleased with the performances overall. Christopher Abbott has built quite a successful career since his days on the HBO series Girls. He took on a very complex character and I thought he did a really great job. Julia Garner, better known as Ruth in Ozark, plays his wife and I thought she was really good as well. I will say that I didn’t really feel the chemistry you would like to see between the leads, but it wasn’t that big of an issue. Young actress Matilda Firth plays the couples daughter and she was fine for the most part. In general I would say the cast was one of the primary bright spots for the film.
As far as the technical elements are concerned, I thought WOLF MAN looked fantastic. Early on in the film it was more of the idea that the monster is scarier in the shadows which I love. Once you start to get a few good looks at the WOLF MAN it was pretty damn terrifying in my opinion. The special effects and make-up team deserve a ton of credit for all of the work that went into making sure everything looked as good as possible. I was also very impressed with the score which I thought really did a nice job setting the tone for the film.
I liked the story as a whole and felt like it did a nice job keeping viewers engaged while also adding a much needed emotional element to the film. I think it is safe to say that WOLF MAN is more of a drama thriller than it is a horror thriller, which is fine because it does manage to stick with that identity. The film also offers a solid backstory which makes the film feel a bit more immersive and also allows viewers the opportunity to connect with the characters.
I will say that I was a bit underwhelmed by certain aspects of the screenplay mainly because early on it felt rushed making for dialogue between characters that felt forced. It almost seemed to me like the writers felt it was necessary to dumb things down which really impacted the overall feel of the film. I will say that things did come together pretty well in the end making for what I thought was a satisfying final act. They also added a creative wrinkle as they made an effort to give viewers a glimpse of the perspective from the actual WOLF MAN which was pretty cool to see.
THE VERDICT
An intense horror thriller more than willing to take full advantage of its R-rating, WOLF MAN is held back by a weak screenplay but still offers top-tier visuals and enough blood and gore to satisfy genre fans. It could have been quite a bit better with a little fine tuning, but I was entertained and felt satisfied by the end which is always a win in my book. WOLF MAN may not win over casual viewers or those looking for a well-rounded story, but if you go in with an idea of what to expect I still think it is worth the price of admission.
TED TAKES RATING - 6.2/10
WOLF MAN is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.