Reviews
They Make Them Like They Used To
The Wolfman
directed by
Directed by Joe Johnston
posted by Ezekiel
I never actually saw the original "Wolfman", be it for laziness or sheer force of will. I had this rule to never watch a film that was at least 10 years older than me. I grew up in a generation of flashing lights and colors. If this film was anything like the original (minus today's CGI graphics), then I may have to rethink my rule.
This film starring Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, and Anthony Hopkins, was by far the most thrilling look into that old gypsy story of the werewolf. When stage actor and estranged brother Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) is summoned home by his recently dead brother's fiance', Gwen Conliffe (Blunt), his life changes forever. Reunited with his offish father John (Hopkins), Lawrence sets off to explain his brothers mysterious death.
This film was fantastic! The setting and lighting really emerses you into the dark country side, reminescent of campfire ghost stories. Then it rips the head off of it. Not only is this film filled with tons of emotional moments, but gore a plenty. I'm comfortable in saying that I will watch this again, and this time in the pitch black.
nWoD Inspiration:
Unlike the werewolves that you play in the Forsaken setting, the wolfman doesn't have complete control over his "bestial" side. That being said the transformation scenes rival anything I've ever seen, even Underworld. Also Talbot's first change is so horrific and painfull that it made me think of that moment for every Uratha.
<<< ALERT! >>> Spoilers Ahead! <<< ALERT! >>>
After Talbot returns home he's greeting by his father John, who played by Anthony Hopkins gave me chills when he spoke (remember "I ate his liver with farver beans and a nice Ciante"), whom for all rights seems be a man who very much misses his son, yet warns him not look into his brother's death.
He does so anyway leading him to the same gypsy camp that his brother had dealings with. While talking to you classic gypsy fortune teller, Maleva, the camp is enterupted by a posey of towns folk, who claim the gypsy are responsible for the death of Ben Talbot (much like a lynch mob would do) because they have a bear. Then the real shit hits the fan when the bear (while CGI, was entirely to reall and trained, and dare I say cute.) rears in anger as a werewolf begins cutting the camp apart, literally. Talbot, trying to help stop the slaughter, is viciously bitten, and near death.
After a speedy recover, we meet Abberline (Weaving) of Scotland Yard whom is here to investigate the kiiling with a more scrutinous eye than local law enforcement, starting with Talbot. It's revealed that he had seen his mother kill herself at a very young age and was sent to live in America, after spending two years in a mental insitution per his father John.
On the night of the following full moon, he trails his father into a family crypt and further into tunnels beneath it. Finding a room containing a chair with sturdy straps and a shrine to the late Mrs. Talbot, John ushers his son out of the room and locking the door begins to change comfortably into a werewolf leaving Lawrence free to experience his first and the rage that comes with it.
That morning after he's terrorized the country side he's again taken to a mental institution where the therapy is more like torture. Entering as a victim of chance he slowly becomes insane with random babbling and images that aren't more than memories. While in the institute, John confesses to his son that he too had been bitten many years before on a hunting trip, and in fact it was he that had killed Lawrence's mother, by ripping her throat out.
Throughout the film the obvious love interest for Lawrence, is Gwen, his brother's widow. While growing ever closer after he was bitten, she begins researching for a cure to the curse. Stumbling on some gypsy lore about the subject, Gwen seeks out Maelva's help, and discovers the truth behind the cure—Lawrence has to die.
At the climax of the film, sworn to avenge the death of his mother, John and Lawrence square off in a werewolf battle royal! The fight itself is fairly predictable, but no less vicious as they beat and pummel each other in bestial fury. Lawrence, in a bloodlust after lobbing John's head off with his paw (yeah they did...), seems to tear off after Gwen and into the woods. After catching her, pinned and nearly ready to be eaten, she manages to confided in the last sliver of Lawrence left in the beast, long enough for her to shoot him with a silver bullet.
