They keep telling us that a new wolfman film is on the way, one that shows great promise but until this trailer, I was starting to think they were pulling our leg and then this trailer comes along and boom! All of a sudden it’s clear that the reason for the release date shuffle is to monopolize boxoffice rather than any worry that the film sucks.
Directed by Oscar winning visual effects expert Joe Johnston (he has also directed Hidalgo, October Sky and Jumanji), The Wolf Man plays out a little like Dracula.
Benicio Del Toro is Lawrence Talbot, a man who is bitten by a werewolf and is, subsequently, turned into one himself. Emily Blunt is Gwen Conliffe, his romantic interest and the woman who runs away from the monster Talbot turns into while Hugo Weaving plays Aberline, a detective trying to sort out what exactly is going on. The film also includes Anthony Hopkins Talbot’s father, a man who, I assume, holds the key to all the secrets.
Aside from the fact that the film stars a great cast, the reason to see this is for the werewolf transformations. Though there may not be a whole lot of love for Underworld, one of the things the film did well was the werewolf transformations and aside from Gingersnaps, it’s been a few decades since John Landis amazed us with his work. Johnston obviously knows what he’s doing and the trailer suggest that this project doesn’t simply look nice, it also features some pretty spiffy effects.
The Wolf Man opens on February 10, 2010.
If you want to watch it onl1ne for free,...
I think this looks like terrifically good fun.
Comment by Andrew James — August 20, 2009
Comment by Matt Gamble — August 20, 2009
Comment by Andrew James — August 20, 2009
Comment by Matt Gamble — August 20, 2009
It still looks more real and tactile than Avatar though.
Suck it Gamble.
Comment by Kurt Halfyard — August 20, 2009
Comment by Jonathan — August 20, 2009
If you’re really going to pass judgement on these “performances” then it damages your credibility.
Comment by Rusty James — August 20, 2009
Overacting is necessary in monster movies? Since when?
Matt, are you really gonna judge the acting based on a trailer? What performances, there were lines.
That were delivered horribly. Hopkins is clearly hamming it up and Benicio isn’t far behind, and since the tone of the trailer implies this film is to be taken seriously, that means that you could have a serious disconnect between the director and actor’s intentions for the material. That makes for a messy film. And that doesn’t even begin to go into all of the other production issues this film has had.
I’m not judging the performances, but the trailer gives no evidence that this film is going to be anything better then the mess the studio has admitted it is.
Just because people didn’t like the Avatar trailer doesn’t mean this is a good one.
Comment by Matt Gamble — August 20, 2009
Comment by Jonathan — August 20, 2009
it kind of seems like you are.
Comment by Rusty James — August 20, 2009
So maybe the movie is supposed to be more of a hokey, overly melodramatic style horror film. That may not be a bad thing. I just don’t have much faith that they pulled it off.
Comment by Matt Gamble — August 21, 2009
Comment by Shannon the Movie Moxie — August 21, 2009
Still, far more excited for Wolfman than Avatar. Suck it.
Comment by Kurt — August 22, 2009
Lying doesn’t help prove your point Halfyard.
Comment by Matt Gamble — August 22, 2009
Comment by Kurt Halfyard — August 22, 2009
Comment by Mercurie — August 22, 2009