The highly anticipated Wolf Man reboot is set to bring a fresh take on the classic werewolf tale, and director Leigh Whannell has offered a tantalizing tease about a significant difference in the titular monster, thanks to the movie’s use of “100% practical” effects.
In this new iteration, the story follows a family who seek refuge in a farmhouse during a full moon after being attacked by a mysterious creature while traveling. As they recover from the harrowing incident, the father, Blake (played by Christopher Abbott), begins a slow and harrowing transformation into the Wolf Man. The reboot was penned by Whannell and Corbett Tuck and is being produced by Jason Blum and Ryan Gosling.
During an interview, Whannell disclosed that the Wolf Man’s appearance will diverge from previous versions due to the film’s reliance on practical effects. He confirmed that the design will differ from the werewolf’s traditional look and also noted that the version promoted at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights doesn’t match the movie’s final look. Here’s what Whannell had to say:
“I think you have to bring a new approach. Maybe there are some people that won’t like it because they love the traditional wolf too much, but that was the approach I wanted. The Wolf Man is 100% practical, all make-up – there are no CGI elements.
Things slipped through the cracks, and it was like, ‘Oh, they’re doing this promotion for Wolf Man at a theme park, but it doesn’t look right. We shouldn’t be putting that out in the world, because people are going to think that’s what our wolf looks like.’ My only response is to say, ‘Look, that doesn’t represent what we’re doing.’ All I can do is wait for the movie to come out. Then hopefully people will be like, ‘Oh, I see what they were doing.'”
What these practical effects mean for Whannell’s portrayal of the Wolf Man is that it won’t resemble a typical werewolf. Whannell has previously teased that the movie draws inspiration from “The Fly” in terms of body horror. This applies not only to Blake’s transformation but also to the tragic aspect of him becoming a monster, with his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), and daughter, Ginger (Matilda Firth), powerless to save him. Unlike Lon Chaney Jr.’s portrayal in the 1941 original, the emphasis on realism through practical effects marks a notable departure from the source material.
The film’s trailer has already suggested a more monstrous form, with Blake gradually becoming more animalistic as the story unfolds. The family’s isolation on the farm will heighten the terror of his transformation, as they’re forced to witness him morph into a monster. Given Whannell’s previous success with his unique take on “The Invisible Man” in 2020, which was both a critical and box office hit, these changes are likely to enhance the story being told. And with the promotional version of the Wolf Man being different from the final one, there could be some pleasant surprises in store when the movie hits theaters.
The Wolf Man’s distinct look and the use of practical effects will benefit the movie. Since this new rendition of the classic werewolf story centers on family terror and tragedy, a different design helps to mirror this crucial shift in the narrative. Given how savage Blake’s transformation is set to be, there might be various designs throughout the film, similar to “The Fly”, that signify his worsening physical state. With numerous potential surprises still to come, it’ll be fascinating to see the full Wolf Man design when the film arrives in theaters on January 17, 2025.
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