Movie Review: THE WOLFMAN

Title: THE WOLFMAN

Released: February 2010

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving

My Review: The date: 1891. The place: the eerie fog shrouded Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor where a crazed beast has murdered a number of villagers as well as the local nobleman's son. However, before Ben Talbot's mauled body is discovered, his fiancée, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt), pleads with his brother, Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro), to help in the search. Estranged from the family for several years after his father, Sir John Talbot (Anthony Hopkins), condemned him to an insane asylum, Lawrence is at first unwilling to return to Blackmoor and the dark past that surely awaits but his regret soon drives him back. Sadly, the moment Lawrence arrives home, his father coldly informs him that Ben's body has been found and the horrific cause of death is unlike any has ever seen before.

Frantic suspicions burn rampant amongst the terrified townspeople conjuring tales of werewolves and gypsy magic. Thinking he may find answers regarding his brother's death, Lawrence sets out for the discussed gypsy camp and is soon met with a macabre scene of blood and gore. After his heroic attempts lead him to a fearsome creature's embrace, Lawrence is savagely bitten and near death himself. Nursed diligently by Gwen, Lawrence awakens days later to find the once gaping wound betwixt his shoulder and neck miraculously and completely healed. Frighted of his new found strength and acutely alert senses, Lawrence finds comfort in Gwen but when her presence stimulates a fierce primal desire of terrifying heights, Lawrence banishes her from Blackmoor for fear of her safety.

Lurking about his father's dilapidated estate, Lawrence's instincts fire rapidly with the distinct feeling that someone knows something of his strange condition but when the full moon arises, answers come too late leaving Lawrence to succumb to his worst nightmare. As the animal nature of the beast overpowers and obliterates the man within, leaving nothing but the desire to hunt and maim, Lawrence is merely a shadow of himself. Come morning, when his blood-soaked escapades are discovered, the townspeople of Blackmoor capture the filthy and confused Lawrence. Committed once again to the insane asylum, he's told that he's a monster. A product of his own delusions, the same delusions, oddly enough, that he had as a child which resulted in his previous visit of years past. Lawrence, however, knows what he's suffering from is far worse than mere delusion. He's a werewolf and if he doesn't convince the doctors to put him out of his misery, they'll all soon be dead. Slashed to bloody bits like his brother. There's only one person that has the hope of saving Lawrence, and that's Gwen. She's the only one with the key to his salvation.

My Thoughts:

Watching THE WOLFMAN is like falling magically into a Gothic historical romance. The fog laden land, crumbling mansion, and suspicious townsfolk set the stage for a "who done it" thriller that will have you biting your nails in suspense. Mix in a sensual romance and a darkly mysterious hero and you're left with a wonderful concoction of romance reader bliss.

Benicio Del Toro, whose swarthy dark looks fit perfectly with his character's gypsy heritage, was an interesting role choice. Having only ever seen Del Toro in movies where his native Hispanic accent rolls as thick as honey off his tongue, his American accent for THE WOLFMAN was shocking to say the least. And to answer your sudden question, Lawrence Talbot lived out his adolescent years in America during his long estrangement from his father. What makes Del Toro magic for the role, in addition to his dark rugged looks, is his hulking size. Suddenly he's the hero of every historical romance when his studly physique results in him towering over the pasty British gentry. As I sat watching the thick maleness of Del Toro ride a hulking black steed with his long coattails flailing behind him - he became my walking fantasy - once I adapted to his American accent that is.

And then there's the marvelous Emily Blunt. With her patrician facial structure and wide sensual mouth, little needs be done to transform this modern woman into a Victorian-era lady. While her character, Gwen, has little history to provide to the role accept the fact that she was engaged to Lawrence's murdered brother, Blunt breathes a rich and abundant life into her. She captures the screen with such ease that your enchantment with her plight is immediate. Manipulating the subtlest of facial expressions, the viewer can easily ascertain every one of Gwen's emotions. The love she felt for her dead fiancée, her wariness of Sir John Talbot, and the burgeoning love for Lawrence is played out beautifully upon her face. Gwen is a woman of vulnerabilities along with a palpable fear but it's her desire to help Lawrence that eclipses all else becoming an acute source of determination and bravery. Gwen is the light to Lawrence's darkness. She is his champion, protector and ultimately his savior.

Sir Anthony Hopkins. Funny the difference his title would have meant in Victorian England verses the modern era. A seasoned and brilliant actor, Hopkins gives THE WOLFMAN a much needed credibility alongside the other relative unknowns. As Sir John Talbot, he's a man that you desperately want to trust as a fatherly figure but in truth, that trust was smashed from the beginning with his son's estrangement. A mystery all to himself, it's the disrepair of Sir John's once grand estate that gives the viewer an uncanny glimpse into his soul. He's rotting away from heartache, from loneliness, from desperation. By far, it's his character whose essence bleeds life into the scenes making the very walls of the dilapidated Talbot Hall pulse with darkness. A shell of his former self, Sir John is all that happens when life is allowed to sweep over like a tornado, shredding one's existence.

Beyond its superior cast, THE WOLFMAN is also richly layered in authentic detail. The insane asylum is particularly interesting with its portrayal of the hedonist manner with the which the ailed brain was managed in all its macabre delights. In addition, the special effects, with their bone snapping clarity, offered a visually stunning and gruesome Victorian werewolf. And finally, Talbot Hall is incredible with its Gothic beauty and spectacular scenery. One truly is immersed back in time with this lovely horror of a film.

For Gothic historical romance readers, THE WOLFMAN is a must see!

B+

Fun Facts:

Benicio Del Toro's WOLFMAN makeup took approximately 3 hours to apply and 1 hour to remove.

Talbot Hall is really Chatsworth House located in the Peak District of Derbyshire, England. (It was also used in the 2005 film adaptation of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE with Keira Knightly and 2008s THE DUCHESS, also with Keira Knightly)

Benicio Del Toro is a huge fan of the original film, and remained attached to the remake ever since it was first announced in 2006 and passed through the hands of several directors.

Inspector Abberline is a fictionalization of an actual historical person. He was the Scotland Yard Inspector that investigated London's 'Jack the Ripper' murders in the late 1880s. His past is mentioned in the film.

Many actors, including Gene Simmons and David Lee Roth, were called in to do the Wolfman's howls.

Fun Facts from Internet Movie Database. To view these facts as well as more, click HERE.