Wolfen

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Wolfen is definitely the oddest and most socially conscious of the three big werewolf movies released in 1981 (the others were The Howling and An American Werewolf in London). Rumpled detective Albert Finney is investigating some brutal NYC murders, which leads him to discover that the collapsing buildings of the South Bronx are home to a pack of very vindictive wolflike creatures. American Indian mythology and environmental issues are more to the point here than silver-bullet lycanthropy. As a police procedural, the movie's a bust, its rhythms wrong and Finney's tortured Brooklyn accent unconvincing. But as a horror-mood piece, it can get under your skin. Some trippy photography, plus a bunch of interesting actors at the beginnings of their film careers (Diane Venora, Gregory Hines, and a lean and hungry Edward James Olmos), outweigh the druggy pace and period hairstyles. Director Michael Wadleigh (Woodstock) never made another feature. --Robert Horton

Description

A real estate tycoon, his coke-binging wife and a slum wino have something grisly in common: they're the latest victims in a series of random murders. A veteran NYPD detective soon suspects the killings may be supernatural and deliberate: ages-old beings of cunning intelligence and incredible power, defending their turf from the encroachments of humankind.

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Customer Reviews:

4.75 Stars. There is life that preys on us as we prey on the earth. A Horror film with a message........2007-08-24

Wolfen is not a werewolf movie, don't go into this film expecting or wanting that, go into this film with an open mind.

At the beginning of the film a real estate tycoon is killed, his wife, and there driver by something unknown. A New York City Detective Dewey Wilson is put on the case who is played by Albert Finney. Dewey has had personal problems, he eats donuts after running and he delivers quick one liners like a detective in an old film noir. Gregory Hines assists Finney's character as a coroner who is funny and witty, he is the kind of guy we don't want to die in a horror film.

The higher ups want answers to the wealthy important man's death and do everything they can to blame it on terrorism. Wow, hard to believe this was made in 1981 and not today. The real estate tycoon was breaking ground on a new project and was planning on demolishing an entire area of slums, but these slums are a primal hunting ground for something. The film asks us, who are the real savages? Again ringing more true today and how we are destroying the earth and sucking everything we can out of it, but in Wolfen there are consequences, could it be gods we are to answer too?

The atmosphere is also notable you can feel it, from cold breathe showing, the feeling of autumn, the shots of New York, the wind ominously blowing in the night, thunder as something lurks outside our window, all good stuff.

Again, go into this with an open mind and not expecting a Werewolf movie, and you'll experience a lot more, a horror film with a heart and a message and horror fans you may get some blood and heads rolling about.

Why Hollywood?.......2007-05-13

Why are so many movies falling under the category of "it had potential"? If you figure it out, drop me a line.

Anyway, let's begin this review by examining the title. Wolfen is a combination of the noun "wolf" + the suffix "-en." The "-en" part means "to increase the quality of." So, what we have here is an "increase" of a "wolf" or to put it another way, more wolf than a regular wolf. This comparison will become obvious to you when you see the second half of the film.

The next thing I want to discuss is Albert Finney. What was the casting director thinking? Finney has a repertoire of two facial expressions when it comes to conveying emotions in this movie. And that hair! It looked like he had the latest in weaving for that time. Ah . . . what's the use.

There is an upside to this film, however. After seeing this movie again, I'm truly convinced that the director for the Predator, John McTiernan, must've been influenced by the wolf effects in this movie. I say this because whenever the camera switches from "human view" to the "wolf view," the heat detecting sound and color scheme looks almost the same as the one used by the Predator itself. It could be a coincidence but . . .

In the end, it had potential. The premise is original though and that's the only reason it got two stars from me. And, if you're looking for a scary werewolf creature, you're going to be sadly disappointed. But on a more positive note, the movie has a strong message concerning man and his environment which I completely agree with. So people, you've been warned.

Beasts or Shapeshifters?...........2007-04-28

One of the most interesting shapeshifters movies I've ever seen. Were they real beasts or shapeshifters/werewolves?. Amazing horror and suspense mix. Very good story and very good performance. One of the best in its genre.

were it all started.......2007-01-09

I am a big wolf fan,this movie really impressed me when it came out,and all these years later it still stands out,thanx and happy trails.

Wolves in the park.......2006-12-09

Scary maybe, who no's when it comes to wolves, I liked it.

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