Blake (Christopher Abbott) and Charlotte (Julia Garner) are both writers on different sides of their careers. Blake is out of work and spends time being a father to their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth), while Charlotte has become work-obsessed which has put a strain on their relationship.
When Blake is informed that his father has been declared dead, he suggests the family take some time off to travel to the remote Oregon home of his childhood to gather up his father’s belongings and get some needed family time.
In the new film “Wolf Man” things do not go as planned as the remote location which is off the power grid and lacking neighbors and cell reception and phone service soon becomes a living nightmare when the family suffers and accident and Blake is injured.
Unable to raise help via radio and with a wild animal outside, Blake begins to undergo a frightening change in his health and soon begins to turn into a threat that forces his family to confront dangers both internal and external.
The nightmare soon evolves into a contest for survival in a constantly changing nightmare from which there is no escape.
The movie is a slow-burn getting to the intensity but it does set the scenario and players well. The FX work was solid and effective and elicited a few groans and shocked responses from the audience without being gratuitous or excessive.
The leads did not seem to have much chemistry as I do not believe that they were a caring couple so when moment s that were supposed to be heartfelt and scary; instead were amusing to me even though I was engaged in the story.
Leigh Whannell who came to prominence with “SAW” and also made the very good “The Invisible Man” clearly has a grasp on the material and gives a satisfying take on the subject matter while not falling back on some traditional stereotypes.
In the end the film delivers enough entertainment to make it worth a watch and I would not mind seeing if there were more tales in this version of the fabled creature ahead.
3.5 stars out of 5
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