The Wasteland Reviewer

Wolf Man (2025) Written Review

Why doesn’t Universal just hand the keys to the Universal Monster franchise over to Leigh Whannell? Starting with The Invisible Man, Whannell has shown that he knows how to take a classic monster and concept and find a way to not only modernize it but also add depth through themes and motifs. The way he was able to inject humanistic and relatable elements into the broader narrative of a classic horror monster movie was quite impressive. But now Whannell has taken the reins on one of the most beloved of all the classic monster films…Wolf Man.

How is Whannell (and his writing partner, Corbett Turk) able to inject deeply impactful and poignant themes into the Wolf Man? From the opening prologue, you understand that this film is about more than just the thrill of a wolf man trying to mutilate unsuspecting visitors in the woods. This film is a film about loss and death especially how it fits into the human experience and how precious life can be. Parental relationships play a key role as our protagonist, Blake, has a tough relationship with his father and that dictates his actions years in the future with his daughter Ginger. There is something powerful in the way that Whannell can infuse this horror film with poignant elements related to generational trauma and the loss of a parent as well as the need to step up as a single parent. The dialogue might be on the nose at times and overly blunt, but the themes are executed so well on screen that it works so well anyway. As you can see…there is so much more to this film than just watching the devastation caused by an unleashed beast.

There are plenty of themes to explore in Wolf Man but does the story engage the audience as well? Whannell and Turk can structure this narrative in quite an effective way. The opening prologue works well to set up some of the fundamental thematic elements, set the stage for the horror elements that will help define the film, and subtly foreshadows some of the key narrative elements throughout. The film also takes just the right amount of time to set up our familial dynamic which allows Wolf Man to reach the tragic crescendo that it is going for. Blake is a stay-at-home dad during the events of the film and his relationship with Ginger is the most impactful in her young life. Charlotte is a successful journalist at first and struggles to connect with her daughter. The events of the film (Blake slowly turning into the titular creature) engage not only the themes of the film but the drama centered around this fractioning family unit. Whannell and Turk choose to explore Blake’s descent over the course of one night and the pacing of his transformation and the conflict with the wolf man is so well done. Once the titular creature is fully realized and open in the third act, the film loses just a bit of its luster, but the emotional elements of the story take over and gives the film such a cathartic and satisfying conclusion.

There is plenty of richness to the screenplay, but does Whannell deliver on the directing too? Like The Invisible Man, Whannell shows off with some dynamic and interesting choices. The most important piece is the wolf man itself. This is not your standard Lon Chaney Jr. well-groomed hairy man look. This is gnarly and grotesque. There is so much pain and suffering in Blake as he makes this transition. The body mutilation even looks painful in the final state. The body horror elements are shocking and brutal with teeth falling from his mouth, gnawing on his own flesh, and the transition from nails to claws. Each one is stomach churning. One of the most unique and dynamic aspects of the film is the POV elements of the wolf man. The heightened hearing of little noises to the loss of human communication to the strange visual palette of lights that they see. There are some bold and dynamic camera choices throughout the film with cinematographer, Stefan Duscio, doing some crafty work to assist in realizing the tragedy, tension, and horror of the film. Benjamin Wallfisch’s score is eerie and horrific at times while being deeply emotional and moving at others. From a technical standpoint, Whannell pulls it all together for some masterful filmmaking.

What is the real heart of the film that ties this all together? This cast. Christopher Abbott is an underappreciated yet extremely talented actor who brings a lot to his roles. To start, he crafts Blake as an empathetic and tender man who is full of insecurity but also love. But it is the transition that shows off Abbott’s talents. The pain, fear, and confusion that he sells with his eyes and body language is just top notch. The slow build of animalistic tendencies is folded into his performance with great precision. Julia Garner gives a more reserved performance, but she delivers plenty of pain and emotion as she slowly loses her husband. Matilda Firth does a really fine job with her performance as Ginger as she has a few big emotional moments. Even though he is mostly presented in the prologue of the story as Blake’s father, Sam Jaeger delivers an intense performance with anger, fear, and pain behind his gruff façade.

Does Wolf Man set the bar high for horror in 2025? Whannell has done it again by modernizing a classic horror flick while adding a more dynamic, thematically rich, and emotionally resonant experience. Abbott shows why he deserves to be in more conversations about the best working today. A great horror flick has arrived with impressive effects, masterful filmmaking, and plenty of emotion to experience in a packed theater.