The Wolfman

The Wolfman (2010) C+
 
Directed by: Joe Johnston
 
Cast includes: Benecio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving
 
Color, Horror
 
This was definitely not the worst movie I’ve ever seen. I’ll leave that distinction to Nicholas Cage’s Knowing. I must say that I did not go into The Wolfman expecting to like the movie at all because of what I had heard about it from the critics, so I was pleasantly surprised in that respect. Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) is summoned back to Blackmoor, his family’s manor and place of a childhood trauma, by his brother’s fiancé Gwen, played by Emily Blunt. His brother is missing but by the time he arrives at Blackmoor, his brother’s body has already been found, along with two others, ripped to shreds. While attempting to find the cause of his brother’s death, Lawrence himself gets bit by the beast and survives. What happens next is no surprise. During a full moon he himself becomes a werewolf. But who is the original beast and how will Lawrence’s own condition be resolved? Will the Scotland Yard detective (Weaving) investigating the case catch him?
 
The Wolfman is a throwback to the original horror movies, only with much more gore and CGI. Trust me, lots more gore! If seeing blood on the screen makes you sick, then I do not recommend you see this movie. The story was predictable with no major plot twists. I had already figured out what I think was intended to be the main twist from all the previews I had seen. While the storyline about Lawrence Talbot’s past helped support the story, there was not as much depth to it as I had hoped. There was very little background to Lawrence’s father (Hopkins), Sir John Talbot, and absolutely no characterization of Gwen. I must say the cinematography deserves an A+ for some stunning shots. I enjoyed the elements of the classic horror film present in the movie. I almost jumped out of my seat several times, but with better developed characters The Wolfman would have been a much better movie.