“The Wolfman” is weak remake and lacks creativity, structure

"The "Wolfman"," directed by Joe Johnston ("Jumanji," "Honey I Shrunk the Kids," "Jurassic Park III") is a remake of the original 1941 classic horror film. Exhibiting talent including Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving, and Emily Blunt, "Wolfman" seemed to be in good hands. Established screenwriters Andrew Kevin Walker ("Se7en") and David Self ("Road to Perdition") jointly contributed to the screenplay.

NBC Universal, the production house and distributor of the film, has apparently lost faith in original ideas. Evidenced by the increasing release of never-ending series remakes like "The Mummy," Universal is operating on the theory that if it worked before, it will work again.

"The Wolfman" is the tale of Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) returning home after a long undetermined absence to investigate his brother's strange disappearance. It quickly becomes clear that Talbot has bitten off more than he can chew. The film itself is cheesier and campier than that punny gem.

In a telling nod to the classic B-movie style horror, "The Wolfman" attempts to recreate the visuals and gore from the original. A B-movie is generally a film in which the director's vision exceeds the production budget. In turn, the quality of the movie is affected. A problem arises when a film aimed at recreating the B-movie vibe has a big budget. The result is a noticeably ostensible depiction that tries too hard. Such is the case with the new "Wolfman."

In order to make the film work effectively, conventions must be shattered using novel, stylistic methods. For example, the over-choreographed battles and cartoon blood sprays from Kill Bill paid homage to the genre with just that. "Wolfman" fails to deliver on the same level with its thick syrupy blood, ridiculously gratuitous cartoonish rubber gore, and depressing dull dialog. Amid a group of big-name actors, a performance by titan thespian Geraldine Chaplin playing Maleva, the obligatory ancient knowledge-bearing gypsy woman, is unfortunately underused.

The film had me shaking my head at repeated cheap scares and lame stolen pop out horrors. The jumpy cuts, as predictable as they are ridiculously unnecessary, interrupt the flow of the narrative. Each scene is colored with a redundantly bleak, gothic look that makes for confusing changes in scenery.  A rogue fog so thick that you could cut it with a knife rolls in periodically, even when not present seconds before. Discontinuous scenery and lighting make for a lurching ride through the film's series of events.  

I am not as up to snuff on my werewolf/lycan lore as I probably should be. If I am not mistaken, though, a full moon occurs roughly once a month. Juliet's encounter with Romeo in which she tells him "swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon" comes to mind when thinking about "Wolfman." Without giving too much away, the audience is expected to believe that approximately five months pass over the course of the film. Existing completely independent of any temporal reality, "Wolfman" seemingly overlooks the fundamentally imperative element of moon phases.

"The Wolfman" should not be considered an awful film. It provides a fair amount of entertainment and thrills. Although slightly sullying the original image, it is far from ruined. If asked to describe Wolfy in one adjective, "weak" would be my choice. The film is frail, but by no means terrible.

There are a few redeeming qualities about the film that keep the sinking ship afloat. The CGI transformations were well constructed and not grossly overdone. The likeness of the original actor with their canine self is surprisingly uncanny. An image that survived the contemporary transition from the original is the maniacal German doctor. The mad scientist image is an utterly fantastic depiction of how the Nazi eugenic doctor was perceived at the original film's release in 1941. With a blood splattered art smock, elbow-high black rubber gloves, and a Freudian look; the asylum's doctor incites a (literal) chill and a chuckle at the same time.

"The Wolfman" is a weak, undercooked narrative relying on shameful scares and gratuitous cartoon gore. Despite getting some things right, Wolfy is an ultimately failed recreation, making this a filmic beast that should be brought to the shed around back.
 
Five and a half stars out of 10.