MOVIE REVIEW: THE WOLFMAN

THE WOLFMAN (English/18PL)

Genre: Horror
Release Date: 11 February 2010
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Running Time: 102 mins.
Director: Joe Johnston
Producers: Benicio del Toro, Scott Stuber, Rick Yorn, Sean Daniel

Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker, David Self; Curt Siodmak (original screenplay)

Casts: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Geraldine Chaplin
Plot: Set in the late 1880s, this remake of the 1941 Hollywood classic begins with Lawrence Talbot meeting his estranged father following his brother's death. While searching for his brother's murderer, he soon discovers something horrifying - that the murderer is none other than the werewolf himself.

THE VERDICT

The reason why I don't really enjoy this movie is pretty simple. The one may argue the reason behind the unexpected move to push the movie backward from its November 09 release but it becomes crystal clear that the move is pretty much strategy to realize that the creature will suffers with harsh pundits. Yes, indeed those theory is true.

In the 1880s, Lawrence Talbot was summoned back to the Talbot Hall following the mysterious missing of his long estranged brother, Ben. He offered to help to search for Ben under the request from Ben's fiancee Gwen. However, he later found out that Ben's body was found in a ditch and mangled and torn apart. Determined to investigate his brother's death, Lawrence heads to a nearby gypsy camp when a werewolf suddenly rampages through the camp. The rest is for you to watch.

Here are the problems; the plot was written at the sense that it wanted to be so 'dark' (adding in very dark environment and atmosphere) but it did not worked out. In this movie remake like many others, the script is swaying towards darkness and dealing about emotions, but this one, it does not achieved that goal. While I have to give credit for avoiding the temptation to follow what the original '41 looks like, its version for gothicity did not paved off that well.

It is easy to spot how quickly the excitement on the script faded off as the movie progresses. To top them all, the movie is so predictable and lack of any suspense nor chilling factors. The movie is many occasions tries to flick some scary images for you to freak out. It works when in several occasions I was plunged a bit from my seat but later I found out that those images are so unnecessary and served no point at all. Some times, I wonder if I am watching a horror wolf-movie or simply a scare-you-till-death ghost story. Luckily, the pace was good enough for me to endure, or else, I would have start cursing over the moon.

Thanks to the "I-forgot-the-time'" concept, the sequences happened as if it happens in a few nights. The one peculiar thing I want to ask is "it seems like everyday is full moon?". Oops, just a point of view!

Here is a tough question - did Benicio del Toro miscasts for this hairy-man role. It was hard to determine until I was convinced that he was not the right one perhaps. A Puerto-Rican (American technically) doing a British accent is not bad, is just that his exotic Spanish blood look makes him not really a good choice for Lawrence Talbot. However, by just ignoring his look, I think he did a great job here. Anthony Hopkins gave a stereotype role but he was just psychologically fun to watch.

Perhaps, the only thing that is still debatable too about this movie is the effects. I have to say, the skyline of London was magnificently portrayed. Take an example of the London chase, the effects-laden is superb. Credits for its effects but I have to say that the weak plot gave nothing in terms of true psychological horror or suspense.

THE RATING:
Story – 1.5 stars
Casts – 3.0 stars
Cinematography – 4.0 stars
Effects – 3.5 stars
OVERALL – 2.5 stars

GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 10.5