“Werewolf” review: a brilliant reimagining of the classic

Universal’s monsters are an important part of horror film history. From Christopher Lee’s many incarnations of Dracula to Frankenstein James Whale. The truth is that the reinterpretation of the study of the most terrifying creatures was a milestone that remains crucial to the understanding of the genre almost a century later. werewolf (2025) Leigh Whannell does not forget this legacy, and in fact, the film is in many ways a modern take on the production company’s classic film style.

Moreover, the director takes the idea of ​​a supernatural being and turns it into an allegory about generational trauma. Much more in the study of violence and fear as a blood heritage. The combination of both points of view makes werewolf a clever reflection on what lies behind each monster. Additionally, to explore the possibility that in most cases the real entity to be feared is a very common type of violence, which ultimately becomes the scene of an unexplained event.

Leigh Whannell, who played The Invisible Man (2020), a thorough examination of abuse, has similar intentions in its new film. But in this case, he doubles down by showing that the sinister judgment is also the thread that unites all the characters with their past traumas and suffering. This twist allows the script, co-written by Whannell with Corbett Tuck, Rebecca Angelo and Lauren Shuker Blum, to go further than just a scary story. Also, make creative decisions about how to show the main monster or its special characteristics. Advantages that the director takes full advantage of.

A mysterious creature is hiding

The story follows Blake (Christopher Abbott), a man with a turbulent past that he struggles to come to terms with. The plot tries to clearly differentiate between the psychological wounds a character may have and their behavior. A decision that complicates Blake’s life. And this is in the face of what he has to face and his attempt to heal the part of himself that he denies and tries to contain. In particular, when you decide return to the Oregon of his childhood and face bitter memories of his harsh family life.

He is reluctantly accompanied on his adventure by his wife Charlotte (Julia Gardner) and daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth). The story sets up the conflict well and quickly, making it clear that the trip to Oregon is the tipping point between the marriage and the future for both of them. Again, there are hints of complex family relationships. The theme of violence – familial and cultural – is a recurring theme in werewolf. But in no case is this simplified and, moreover, not It is used to justify the supernatural setting in which the film will explore.

On the contrary, the plot takes just enough time to avoid falling into cliché. So the experience that defines character is only the starting point on the path to horror. The director also uses the feeling of imminent danger to make the atmosphere of the plot more dense and impenetrable. Much more when everyone becomes the center of a mysterious attack by an unexplained creature.

Classic monster in modern cinema

Much of the effectiveness of the way the titular creature is shown lies in the way Leigh Whannell reinvents the myth. Especially since it adds layers of complexity and depth to the simple idea of ​​a legendary monster out for blood. So he turns the farm he recently inherited from Blake into the epicenter of a phenomenon that gets worse during the full moon. Step by step what seems to be the threat of an unstoppable beast, It becomes a sign of something worse and inexplicable.

werewolf He has the wisdom to avoid showing too much of his creation. So he turns his attack into a series of horrific events that become increasingly brutal and brutal. Part of the story’s atmospheric effectiveness comes from its ability to be truly creepy. A few clues about what lies beyond the isolated object allow us to dig deeper. in the feeling that whatever it is, it is inexplicable.

So when Blake is wounded by the creature, the film makes the smart decision to turn his slow transformation into a combination body horror and psychological terror. werewolf It can be a drama with creepy overtones that define its memorable first hour, or a classic plot about the untamed nature of evil. Between these two things, Leigh Whannell finds a point of balance in how man and the wild essence of a supernatural being They can be mixed into a single bloody appetite.

Predictable ending, but not inappropriate

Best of werewolfoccurs during long night scenes that feature the creature attacking Blake’s property. The use of darkness to emphasize the unknown nature of the danger gives the film an ominous density. Also, when he involves Charlotte and Ginger in how the film talks about what happens. Therefore he uses the point of view of both to describe a dimension of fear and horror that lurks in the shadows and surrounding forest.

Additionally, Blake’s slow transformation is ingenious and well-planned. Christopher Abbott delves into his role through vulnerability and fear, and through the wild mystery that unites him with the creature he must face. Step by step, the film decides to turn him from a hero into a monster and an imminent danger. and this without losing character complexity.

More, werewolf It loses much of its effectiveness when it reveals all its secrets or becomes predictable. Especially because of its ending, which has a certain touch of cliché and is more than a little predictable. Despite this, the film is strong enough to hold up despite its flaws. Good news for horror fans.