Universal Pictures has faced more than its fair share of challenges with rebooting the classic Universal Monsters for modern audiences. The studio clearly understands that there is ample value in the associated IPs. However, not every attempt to bring the properties into the 21st century has been successful. In fact, The Mummy (2017) performed so poorly that the studio scrapped their plans to create a shared Dark Universe with that as the entry point.
The studio seemed to have cracked the formula with Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man. That film made nearly $150 million at the global box office against an estimated budget of only $7 million. Naturally, the studio courted Whannell for another reboot from the classic Universal Monsters archive.
The next project Whannell developed with Universal is Wolf Man, of course. Though it didn’t deliver the critical acclaim or box office success that The Invisible Man did, Wolf Man still resonated with some fans and critics. Among them is our Mary Beth McAndrews. Though she was quick to call out the film for a messy script, she still saw merit in the collective whole and even rated the picture 3.5 out of 5 stars!
The summary paragraph from her critique reads:
“With The Invisible Man, Leigh Whannell proved his ability to modernize the Universal Monsters into a terrifying contemporary context. With Wolf Man, despite a disappointing script, Whannell continues that trend by illustrating an understanding of what scares us in the 2020s. [Christopher] Abbott’s performance plus strategically timed moments of visceral gore and set pieces make Wolf Man a thrilling experience that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.”
What is Wolf Man about?
Blake (Abbott) and his family are attacked by an unseen animal and, in a desperate escape, barricade themselves inside a farmhouse as the creature prowls the perimeter. As the night stretches on, however, Blake begins to behave strangely, transforming into something unrecognizable that soon jeopardizes his wife and daughter.
If you have yet to watch the film and find yourself curious, Wolf Man is streaming on Prime Video now!
That’s just about all the excitement we have for you, for the time being. Stay tuned to the site in the near future for more streaming-related updates. Until then, you can always find me rambling about movies and television on Threads. I am on the platform as @FunWithHorror.
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