DVD Corner

Wolf Man 4K UHD Review

The Wolf Man deserves better than 2025’s “Wolf Man.” 

Written by Leigh Whannell and Corbett Tuck, “Wolf Man” is a new take on the classic Universal Monster. The story starts off in 1995 where a young boy (Blake) lives with his strict survivalist father (Grady) in the Oregon wilderness. Grady, a hunter, has been obsessed with hunting some sort of creature (we all know what). The story jumps to modern day where a now adult Blake has a wife (Charlotte) and daughter (Ginger), but the family dynamic is not so happy. When he learns that his missing father is now pronounced dead and that he has inherited his childhood home, Blake decides to take his family on a vacation with the hope of maybe repairing his marriage. It is an idea he would soon regret as his trip back to Oregon becomes a nightmare plagued by a car accident, death, and a werewolf preying on them. Worse still, Blake finds himself transforming into a werewolf himself thereby threatening his family’s safety. 

1941’s “The Wolf Man” still stands as one of the best werewolf films ever made. Truth be told, it’s hard to improve upon the original Universal Classic Monster films and director Leigh Whannell’s “The Invisible Man” and now “Wolf Man” certainly do not come close to touching the greatness of the originals.

Whannell attempts to do something different here by creating a body horror werewolf tale about family, humanity, and survival, but it all comes across as a very bland little horror film that is severely lacking in scares. This is partially due to the peculiar werewolf design. The use of practical effects, make-up effects and prosthetics is a welcome sight to be sure, but the design never gives off werewolf vibes. It resembles more of a burn victim or someone with a deadly disease. There are some nifty concepts within this interpretation though. The POV transformation of Blake’s humanity slipping away works well, but that angle only takes you so far. It’s just a shame some of the film’s better ideas get lost in a tale that consists of far too much running around a house and property before the all too predictable ending. 

Cast wise, this is very much Christopher Abbott’s movie. The actor physically and mentally commits to the part and is quite convincing in his transformation. Julia Garner (Charlotte) and Matilda Firth (Ginger) turn in quality performances here as well. If only they had stronger material to work with.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? The dark and stylized horror film shines on 4K.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? There’s a real attention to the sound design here and it works wonders with this Atmos track. 

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* Commentary by Leigh Whannell
* “Unleashing A New Monster”- A featurette on Leigh Whannell’s take on a classic monster. Interviews and set footage are included.
* “Designing Wolf Man” covers the make-up, prosthetics, and the look of the werewolf.
* “Hands-On Horror” revolves around the practical stunts.
* “Nightmares And Soundscapes” is all about how the wolf man hears and sees in this story. 

March 10, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Leigh Whannell, The Wolf Man, Universal Monsters, Werewolf, Wolf Man 4K UHD Review, Wolf Man Movie