Tuesday, October 22, 2013

31 Werewolves | Wolf



With a few exceptions, werewolves of the '60s through the '80s were largely treated as fantasy creatures. There were good werewolves and bad ones, but they all pretty much just accepted their condition and audiences were expected to accept it, too. Rare was the story of a human who struggled with the curse. Rarer still was the one that did it exceptionally well.

I guess that's why I love Mike Nichols' Wolf from 1994, sort of an unofficial companion to Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula and Kenneth Branagh's Frankenstein from around the same time. Jack Nicholson plays a book editor who could teach Clark Kent something about being mild-mannered, until he's bitten by a wolf he accidentally hit with his car. Not since Lon Chaney Jr had we gotten a more sympathetic portrayal of someone who was frightened by this thing they were becoming. As the wolf side of his personality asserts itself, Nicholson's character starts seeing the benefit of living a more passionate life, but is also frightened by what could happen if he casts off all restraint. It's a complicated balance and Nicholson, of course, nails it.

Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader, and Christopher Plummer also play important roles and this is probably my favorite werewolf movie second only to the original Wolf-Man.

4 comments:

Wings1295 said...

You know, I have never watched this one? It seems like it should be amazing and I'd love it, but I just never made the time. Will try and rectify that soon!

Erik Johnson Illustrator said...

Jack Nicholson being mild mannered? Hard to believe given every time someone has mentioned this movie they've said its just about Jack Nicholson getting hairier.

But if you recommend it I'll at least consider it.

Paxton said...

Epic cast. I too enjoy this movie and think Nicholson nailed being "a man slowly turning into a wolf".

I thought the movie drug in a few parts but overall it does justice to the wolfman.

Ken O said...

I need to re-watch this. I remember seeing it in the theater and hating it. Sounds like I need to give it another shot.

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