The latest iteration of the legendary Universal Studios’ monster ends up being style over substance – and lacks that killer bite.
Though not without merit, director Leigh Whannell’s follow-up to the accolades he received for his impressive pre-Covid The Invisible Man outing is just too linear to ever get too excited about.
And it very much evokes a “is that it?” vibe come the close.
But it does try something a bit different with the Wolf Man lore – being based on the 1941 movie – with one or two scary set-piece moments that will pacify some.
The movie opens in 1995, where a recent vanishing of a hiker in the remote mountains of Oregon has sparked speculation to a virus linked to the region’s wildlife.
During a deer hunting trip in said area, a young Blake Lovell and his strict father Grady (Sam Jaeger), spot a mysteriously hairy humanoid-shaped creature lurking in the woods, and hide in an elevated hunting blind. After surviving the ordeal, days later Blake’s father vanishes.
Jump forward thirty years, and we see a grown-up (between jobs) Blake (Poor Things’ Christopher Abbott) dotingly looking after his daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth), who are both getting disconnected with their workaholic wife/mum Charlotte (Ozark’s Julia Garner).
So when Blake finally receives a death certificate for his father (finally confirmed after his long disappearance), he convinces his wife to take some time off from the stresses of work to take a break in Oregon – with the promise of the spectacular views that come with it – to pack up his father’s belongings.
Alas, things don’t go to plan when they reach the vicinity of his old childhood home, and the threesome find themselves fighting for their lives when they encounter this once-deemed-mythological creature nearby.
But if being marooned in a house in the middle of nowhere – with a bloodthirsty hairy-being outside isn’t bad enough – Blake was clawed by the ‘monster’ in an earlier encounter, and has become infected – showing signs of illness.
So as well as battling survival, Charlotte has to think of a way to get her husband to a hospital – especially when she realises he may be slowly transforming into something terrifyingly monstrous.
And through some impressive ‘wolf vision’ – in which we see Blake’s sense and sensibilities slowly eradicate into an almost trance-like state – there’s some noteworthy ideas that Whannell tries to employ here.
Sadly, despite the handful of jump scares – and a twist that you can smell from a mile away – this is generally quite restricted. And at times a little boring. Almost like the cast and crew had one hand tied behind their back before they even started.
But it’s still a valiant effort – with credible special effects – that at least tries to diversify the Wolf Man mythology, even if it ends up being generally ponderous like the last Benecio Del Toro-led movie from 2010. This may be a tad better, but not by much.
So despite glimpses that could have lead to an impressive full moon – there’s more predominantly howls of disappointment by the film’s close.
Rating: 2.5/5
Gavin Miller
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, Matilda Firth, Benedict Hardie & Sam Jaeger
Running Time: 1 Hr 43 Mins
Director: Leigh Whannell
For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk
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