«Wolfman» (2025) is a chilling new story from Blumhouse that offers audiences a classic horror story combined with psychological drama. Director Lee Vonnell, known for his work on the cult thriller «The Invisible Man», once again creates a tense atmosphere in his new film, where every step the characters take heightens the audience’s anxiety.
Pluses:
The high level of acting by Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner; the atmosphere of tension characteristic of Lee Vonnell's work; visually convincing scenes of transformation
Minuses:
a banal and predictable plot that uses familiar clichés; a weak script that does not allow for deep characterization; the film is inferior to «The Invisible Man» in terms of originality and dramatic tension
«Wolfman»
Genre horror, thriller
Director Lee Vonnell
Starring Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, and others
Premiere January 16, 2025,
The story centers on Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott), a San Francisco man who inherits a house in the Oregon countryside after his father mysteriously disappears. When he decides to vacation there with his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth), he encounters otherworldly phenomena. However, instead of the peace they desire, the family is forced to fight a terrifying and unpredictable creature that attacks them. The culmination is Blake’s gradual transformation into a dangerous creature, which forces his family to make a morally difficult choice: to save their husband and father or to flee from him.
Although the plot contains some interesting elements, its main line seems too banal for the horror genre. The story of a remote house where the characters encounter something unknown and terrifying has long been a cliché in cinema. The development of events is quite predictable, and some plot twists do not add much depth or novelty. The actions of the characters are predictable, and the ending of the movie is even more so.
Christopher Abbott as Blake Lovell demonstrates a convincing performance, skillfully conveying the character’s inner conflict, including the struggle with his nature. Julia Garner, as always, does a brilliant job in her role, embodying the image of a wife balancing between love and fear of her husband. Their on-screen chemistry adds emotional credibility to the story. However, even strong acting can’t fully compensate for the script’s shortcomings, which limits the possibilities for deeper characterization.
Lee Vonnell once again demonstrates his talent for creating a tense atmosphere. However, when comparing «Wolfman» to his previous hit «The Invisible Man», one can see that the new film is inferior in terms of originality and depth.
While in «The Invisible Man» the director managed to combine an action-packed thriller with a social message, «Wolfman» is much simpler and less ambitious in its themes. He tries to scare, and in his attempts to evoke emotions in the viewer, the film often follows familiar paths, using techniques that have long become clichés.
Visual effects remain at a high level, especially in the scenes of Blake’s transformation. Also worth noting are the scenes from the werewolf’s side, where Lee Vonnell should be applauded. Very nice and looks like a breath of fresh air.
Despite the shortcomings of the script, the atmosphere in the movie is impeccably created. Lee Vonnell, masterfully working with tension, successfully uses locations: the remote forests of Oregon with their foggy valleys and gloomy nights become a full-fledged character in the story. The constant feeling of isolation and danger is enhanced by the play of light and shadow, which emphasizes the hidden threat.
The soundtrack and sound design successfully complement the film, creating a sense of unease even in the calmest scenes. The visual transformations of the protagonist are striking in their realism and detail, which enhances immersion in the film’s world.
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