While this prolonged season of cold - full of icy chills - still holds a tight and frigid grip over most of America this year, it seems certainly appropriate to embrace the gothic nature of winter with a really good classic monster film and bury our heads under the warm covers of safety when moments get too intense. It's almost as if Universal knew this and that's their reasoning for the delay of The Wolfman - almost. Full of moments that showcase the film's intended campy nature and its gnarly teeth, director Joe Johnston's steady hand and fine knowledge of classic film gusto can only go so far with a film that, in its present state, suffers from a severe case of identity crisis.
Boasting to be no more than what it is: a remake of 1941's production (written by Curt Siodmak), The Wolfman is the tale of stage-actor Lawrence Talbot's (Benicio del Toro) reconciliation with his father, Sir John Talbot (Anthony Hopkins) after the sudden disappearance of his brother from their home in Blackmoor. Prompted by a beseeching letter written by his brother's grieving ex (Emily Blunt), the estranged Talbot returns home only to discover his brother has been recently murdered by a strange beast in the shadowy forest. Believed by the villagers and local law enforcement to be the work of a dancing bear belonging to some forest-dwelling gypsies, Talbot sets out on a dark and spooky night to find this group and confront them with his knowledge of their animal's wild nature. A sudden attack on the gypsies by something wolf-like and howling results in an infectious bite that leaves Talbot hurting and... well... Everyone knows what happens if one should survive the bite from a werewolf; there's a brand new side of Talbot that wants to break free, kill some people and... howl at the moon, but not if Scotland Yard's Aberline (Hugo Weaving) has anything to say about it.
Originally slated to be released in November of 2008, The Wolfman has been, to put it mildly, in developmental hell since its production announcement back in spring of 2006. From a significant and startling switch in its directors, a change in its score, to severe disagreements over the special effects, the troubling reshoots, and then all the different cuts of the film, one can safely say that The Wolfman has been in a constant state of transformation for 4 years. That's one hell of a full moon. That being said, well-wishers of the franchise and fans of the classic Universal Monster films have plenty to howl with pleasure at and applaud under Johnston's solid direction, but it's not quite enough to save the film from the source of its biggest fault: the first twenty minutes.
The Director’s Cut added what it promised: more depth, more structure, more myth, and more mystery and all in the film’s beginning; it certainly improves the overall atmospheric quality of the theatrical version and – in my estimation – certainly adds another reel to this experience. If you stumbled your way through the clunkiness of the theatrical version’s off-kilter beginning, Joe Johnston’s unrated version will fill your gut with warm fuzzies and a little Max Von Sydow. Wait! Max Von Sydow was in this and it was cut? Indeed. A key sequence that explains that fancy cane Lawrence carries was axed in order to get to the transformation scene faster. Never no more, though! We get mystery, extended chase sequences, backstory (what a concept), and more gothic guts with the unrated version. Johnston's version of the movie allows the middle part of the movie to shine, though. It becomes fun and campy healthily balanced with a severe helping of violence and camera-inducing shocks. Upon Talbot's first full moon after being bitten, the audience aided by Rick Baker's incredible make-up effects (that, thankfully, keep and highlight Jack Pierce's original 1941 design) sees the real appeal of The Wolfman: bone-crunching, shape-changing, four-legged transformation. Toro's change into the werewolf is intense, carnal, and fully realized and it should be; $85 million will do wonders for B movie material, folks. Baker's make-up work is a serious article for discussion in the horror business and it's incredibly able-bodied in this film both fierce and feral, visually revealing the extreme nature and the violence of lycanthropy.
When it comes to its characters; however, The Wolfman barks more than it bites; it's full of quality actors that have little to do. While, due to the nature of the film, the actors don't need to be anything more than B movie players, it would have been nice to see some development from its story; what you have instead is a constant, unchanged character from beginning to end. Toro, with his wrinkled James Dean-esque brow, has always resembled a werewolf and as a self-admitted fan of previous Wolf Man features draws upon earlier incarnations of the beast rather productively. Recalling the character acting of Lon Chaney, Jr and Henry Hull, Toro is coolly watchable and, when let loose as the shaggy fiend on its full-moon prowl, a lot of fun to cheer on. Unfortunately, there is little in the script (besides an escape from a madhouse) for poor Talbot to do but brood about until the next transformation so, as a result, little sympathy is garnered for his character. The same can be said of Emily Blunt's all too brief appearance in the film. Beyond being semi-nude in a weird hallucinogenic dream of Talbot's, there is not much - apart from what is clearly stated and restated by the gypsies - for her to do. Her part is so poorly undeveloped by choice edits that the significance of the ending plays out only upon the heartstrings of the gullible.
Equally a victim of harsh studio edits, Hopkins' turn as Papa Talbot is ominously neutered; ironic because Johnston had to convince Hopkins to stay aboard promising that those scenes which were cut by the studio would be in the theatrical cut. Grossly wasted as a talent, Hopkins' role gets trimmed leaving too much to be inferred - making his gravitas and the film's showdown between father and son seem puny and not nearly as epic as it could have been. The saving grace of the film, as far as the acting is concerned, is Weaving's character of Francis Aberline, though even his seemingly multi-layered character is densely betrayed by the near-sighted construct of the narrative. While, even after the reshot ending, remaining only a minor character, Weaving is entirely gratifying throughout the film as the misunderstood representative of law and order - and is well-positioned for greater things should there be a sequel.
What works in the film, besides Johnston's direction, is the bleak and ghostly pale landscape as captured by cinematographer Shelly Johnson. Shot in the United Kingdom, the locale specifically tinted gray and colorless adds a tonal quality to the gothic nature of the tale and - because the script certainly doesn't - provides the isolating impression of the supernatural events. Also working to full effect are the buckets of gore and bone thrown at the audience courtesy of the werewolf attacks. This is Johnston's first R-rated film and its beheadings all wear that stamp of adult material proudly. Danny Elfman's once-deleted score also adds to the overall moody effect of the film; it is some of his best darkly rich material calling into question what the studio "suits" were thinking by, at one time, axing the score entirely in favor of a blip-and-bleep all-electronic programmed atmosphere.
As a fan of Joe Johnston's previous efforts and taking into account the production's ill-fated history*, one can hardly lay the blame at his feet for the film's shortcomings and please note that The Wolfman is far from being the dud as some have dismissively predicted; it's entertaining when it lets loose and finds its footing and certainly has its fair share of hair-raising moments despite its problem areas. Even if it doesn't live up to the titular legacy or the previous standards of its director's recent successes, given all the unreasonable refuse that has happened to the production of The Wolfman, every audience member should recognize - and be thankful for - the steady hands that made this film rise above the massive train wreck that it easily could have been.
4Shout Factory Exclusive / Shout Factory Exclusive / Collector's Edition + 2 Posters + Slipcover / 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray - October 22, 2025
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; three-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A
Inspired by the classic Universal film, The Wolfman stars Benicio del Toro (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Sicario) as Lawrence Talbot, a haunted nobleman who returns to his family estate after his brother's fiancé, Gwen (Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place, Edge of Tomorrow), begs him to help find her missing love. Reunited with his estranged father (Anthony Hopkins, The Silence of the Lambs, Nixon), Talbot sets out to find his brother ... and discovers that a beast with an insatiable bloodlust has been killing villagers, and that a suspicious Scotland Yard inspector (Hugo Weaving, The Matrix, V For Vendetta) has come to investigate. But as he hunts for the nightmarish beast, Talbot discovers a horrifying destiny for himself.
VIDEO
Taken from a NEW 4K Scan From The Original Negative, the new transfer of the film is seriously golden. The film is presented in this crackling Collector’s Edition courtesy of Scream Factory. The transformation scenes look fresh and appropriately bloodied here in this presentation. The sets are loaded with details unseen before. Overall, the film looks gloriously fresh in 1080p and buzzes with a new sense of urgency as the crisp visuals are punctuated in a way I previously had not noticed. The buildings within are rich with details and bold black levels. Interiors, especially in the home sequences, are solid and expressive. Black levels are strong throughout, revealing layers in the shadows as the building from top to bottom is presented with warmth and clarity.
AUDIO
Presented In Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmos, the new release is thundering when it comes to its sonic presentation.
Supplements:
Commentary:
- Commentary One
- Commentary Two
Special Features:
This ShoutFactory.com exclusive offer contains the following items: The Wolfman [Collector's Edition] 3-disc 4K UHD/Blu-ray set (with slipcover — featuring the original theatrical artwork), Limited edition 18" x 24" rolled poster of original theatrical artwork, an additional slipcover — made exclusively for this promotion — featuring new artwork from the CRP Group, and an exclusive, limited edition 18" x 24" rolled poster — made exclusively for this promotion — of the newly-designed art from the CRP Group
DISC ONE (4K UHD – UNRATED DIRECTOR'S CUT):
- NEW 2024 4K Restoration
- Presented In Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmos
- NEW Audio Commentary By Film Critic Drew McWeeny
DISC TWO (4K UHD – THEATRICAL VERSION):
- NEW 2024 4K Restoration
- Presented In Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmos
DISC THREE (BLU-RAY – UNRATED DIRECTOR'S CUT & THEATRICAL VERSION):
- NEW 2024 4K Restorations - Theatrical & Extended Version
- NEW Audio Commentary By Film Critic Drew McWeeny (Extended Version)
- NEW “Of Fur and Fang” – Folklorist & Author Karen Stollznow on Werewolves and The Wolfman
- NEW “The Wolfbane Blooms Again” – Makeup Effects Artist David Elsey on The Wolfman
- Alternate Endings
- Deleted And Extended Scenes
- “Return Of The Wolfman” – Featurette
- The Beast Maker" – Featurette
- "Transformation Secrets" – Featurette
- "The Wolfman Unleashed" – Featurette
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Composite Blu-ray Grade
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MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 103 mins
Director: Joe Johnston
Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker; David Self; Curt Siodmak
Cast: Benicio Del Toro; Anthony Hopkins; Emily Blunt
Genre: Horror | Fantasy
Tagline: When the moon is full, the legend comes to life.
Memorable Movie Quote: "It is said there is no sin in killing a beast, only in killing a man. But where does one begin and the other end?"
Theatrical Distributor: Universal Pictures
Official Site: https://shoutfactory.com/products/the-wolfman-collectors-edition
Release Date: February 12, 2010
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: October 22, 2025.
Synopsis: Upon his return to his ancestral homeland, an American man is bitten and subsequently cursed by a werewolf.
