The Wolfman (2010) is a very good remake that stands on its own. If you are unaware, it was a remake of the classic Universal horror film, The Wolf Man (1941).
I watched the unrated extended version of The Wolfman, and it was an exciting thrill and an overall good werewolf movie. It had great atmosphere; the town of Blackmoor is almost a character in itself. The foggy forests and dark buildings make the film feel somewhat "disturbing", like the setting is sick; it's a depressing place. The makeup was fantastic; it improved on the original design of the "wolf man". If you don't believe me when I say the werewolf design was good, just ask the Academy; they gave The Wolfman an Oscar for its achievement in makeup. That said, the CGI is definitely 2010 CGI.
The Wolfman actually goes a different direction in terms of story, and I love it when remakes attempt to stand on their own more, but the original story was better executed (I won't spoil anything). The cinematography was also not as memorable in the remake, though it was still effective in communicating the atmosphere; the backdrops were all very moody against the frequently dismayed or otherwise distressed faces of the cast or the "wolf man" himself. Danny Elfman's score was wonderfully operatic; it is more subdued in the beginning, but once the film starts to ramp up, so does the music, and it definitely helped in keeping with the films serious tone.
Performances were great. Benicio del Toro sells the scenes he needed to; a lesser actor might've turned this film into more of a comedy. Anthony Hopkins was wonderful as the estranged father of Larry Talbot. Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving were both very effective in their important roles. The pacing was a little off. Some parts I wished lasted longer, and some parts started to drag. The editing was good; it never confused, and the action scenes were, thankfully, not too cut heavy. The cuts felt like they were placed logically. Nothing too fast and nothing obnoxiously long.
The Wolfman is a remake done well; with respect towards the source while exploring new paths and executing it well. This film is very easy to recommend for anyone who likes the original 1941 The Wolf Man, werewolves in general, horror, powerful settings, great special effects, Danny Elfman, and a whole multitude of other things.
Submitted June 01, 2018 at 09:22AM by korbinkreme https://ift.tt/2J5nmzv