|
| • Advanced Search • Help |
Wolfen | Year: 1981 Classification: Horror Directed: - Michael Wadleigh Actors/Actresses: - Albert Finney - Diane Venora Intriguing political horror movie, but short on scares 1981 was "The Great Werewolf Year," when three major films heralded a revival of the legendary monster. "The Howling" and "An American Werewolf in London" have both become classics, while the third, "Wolfen," remains an oddity. It is definitely the strangest of the three and makes unusual changes to the werewolf mythology to the point that it might not be about werewolves at all. The usual standards of the genre -- silver bullets, wolfsbane, transformations, curses -- are nowhere to be seen, although there are hints of spiritual powers and cunning intelligence beyond the natural world. And while "American Werewolf in London" and "The Howling" contained extensive comedy and many genre-references along with their horror, "Wolfen" plays its story straight and dead serious. It has social issues mixed into its thrills 'n' chills premise: a police detective (Albert Finney) investigating murders in New York City that point toward a wolf-like killer, or possibly a whole pack of them. Director Michael Wadleigh (his only other film is the classic concert documentary "Woodstock") uses the horror movie backdrop as a venue for commentary on class, environmentalism, industrialization, and Native American politics. This is an ambitious bill to fill, and "Wolfen" doesn't quite manage to pull it off. You can appreciate Wadleigh's goals, but he often trips over trying to do too much. The political grandstanding makes for a thoughtful horror movie, but it also slows the film down and overbalances it. Sometimes, you just want action and scares, and "Wolfen" frequently drags. It would have rocked at ninety-minutes, but at nearly two hours, it goes on for too long. The open moves rapidly, and the ending delivers the right amount of apocalyptic violence you expect, but in the center the spaces between the wolf attacks start feeling longer and longer. Some of various elements never fit together, and a few plot points just left on the ground. The mystery surrounding the creatures is, however, appropriate -- sometimes it's better for a horror film to avoid spelling out everything for you. Where "Wolfen" works best is in Wadleigh's superb visual style and the realistic performances. The use of a polarization effect and a steadicam to represent the wolves' POV is quite stunning and eerie. Wadleigh also expertly films New York City and its run-down slums. The film absolutely breathes with a battered, decayed atmosphere. Wadleigh really goes all out with unusual visua; approaches, and it gives the film a polished and inventive feel. Albert Finney and Diane Venora are both good in their roles; Finney especially projects a wonderful world-weariness that matches the setting around him. The film thankfully doesn't load him down with excess psychological baggage. We don't need to have his troubles explained to us; we can SEE them in the world in which he lives. Edward James Olmos is also memorable as a Native American who draws Finney's suspicions early in the movie Gothic Horror book turns into Horrendous Film I gave this one star because that's as low as this site goes. I was so absolutely taken with Whitley Streiber's novel that I could hardly wait for the film to come out. Talk about disappointment - I could hardly sit through the appalling drivel unfolding on the screen.I'm not a violent person but if I'd had the director/ screenplay writer within reach I believe I'd have killed them stone dead. <BR>Admittedly, the title is the same and there are wolves involved but there the resemblance to the book ends. I hope Whitley Streiber was well paid for the butchering of his fine book and that he gives to a lot of charities. <BR>Michael Wadleigh apparently directed this movie and unsurprisingly he never directed a movie again other than a couple of documentaries about Woodstock. He now works as a bus driver in Akron, Ohio. <BR>If his bus driving is the same as his directing and screenplay then I'll go by cab. Dave W Terrible book 2 movie! i wish i could say i enjoyed this movie but if you read the book this movie is insulting to the original plot! Ok we know that movies have to divert from the novel but this was unreal. The novel based these creatures as been highly evolved and down right errie looking canines that appeared half ape half wolf ( the best way i can describe them ). So i sit down excited to see that one of my fav all time books is a movie and i find out they minaly used german shepards !!!! Please people and the story had been terribly distorted till hardly any of it's atmosphere and true scary momments were left. Not to say the movie didnt have the odd errie scene but they were few and far between. The novel set these creatures as deadly hunters in our midst for centuries hunting our weak and sick without us knowing. This in my mind was quite a scary notion and we thought them men turned into wolves because of their intelligence that matched our own. The writer created a rich and moody atmosphere and in my mind totally original plotlines. The movie toke all that goodness and basically ditched most of it! Unless your amused by DOGS running around and in the end them vanishing in what can only be described as a terrible ending ( these creatures were flesh and blood in the novel not wiggy spirits ) dont waste your time i LOVE werewolf flicks and believe me it's not often i say such negative things about a film but this is a BAD movie even if you you are unaware of the injustice it did the novel it's still a silly and badly made flick! Buy Wolfen at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Wolfen Search with the Priority Search Engine on Wolfen This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
|
