The Wolfman Review by Corbin Bond

I am back with a new review, and this time it's the gory yet beautiful and stylish film that has been anticipated for almost two years. That's right!! I am reviewing The Wolfman!!

I must say that when I first heard about this film, I was nervous. I did not know if the filmmakers could reach the pleasing style that the original 1941 The Wolfman achieved. However, seeing this film opened my eyes completely. The whole 2 hours that I sat watching this film, I felt that audiences have been missing out on true Gothic style horror films. The style and dark atmosphere was depressing but gorgeous simultaneously. Not to mention that the musical score by the amazing Danny Elfman made me feel like I was in the Tim Burton world. Every death scene made me remember the dark yet beautiful deaths in Sleepy Hollow almost 11 years ago and especially Sweeney Todd back in 2007.

The acting by Oscar actor Benicio del Toro was perfect. The whole time I really felt pity for his character, Lawrence Talbot. Furthermore, along with the lovely Emily Blunt's character, Gwen, I felt as if this film was a dark rendition of Beauty and the Beast. Hugo Weaving also presented an interesting depiction of Constable Aberline who has come to the foreboding Blackmoor estate to find the cause of such vicious killings, while he also seems to be the person you like least. However, the absolute best actor in this film was Sir Anthony Hopkins who delivered another Hannibal Lector meets Van Helsing style with his macabre acting genius. Hopkins as Sir John Talbot delivers an enigmatic view of a character with some twisted senses of humor. I felt like I was watching a sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula from 1992 at times. Speaking of humor, the film does have a few good comic relief moments.

I must say that this film had very good character development. The way we learn their back story almost makes it like a dark detective story with Poe like story telling and ambiguous mental visions like dream sequences and flashbacks. The makeup and costume designs were also very beautiful and realistic. Furthermore, besides this film's beauty it is also very bloody, and surprisingly I found myself looking away at some of the deaths. Be warned!!! This film may not cover you in blood literally, but your vision may become reddened for quite some time!!! Lol (only joking) One thing I did like about the deaths were that they looked like actual animal attack victims. This film definitely puts the gore in gorgeous if you know what I mean. One of the deaths actually made me laugh!!

Anyways, on to the CGI. I was worried when I heard about the CG effects because sometimes they take away from the film making it less believable. However, I was pleased to see that the CG in this film was quite impressive. The actual transformation scenes actually had me cringing multiple times at the continuous sounds of popping bones and snapping ligaments and stretching skin. There wasn't much CG, however, in every CG sequence it most definitely worked.

Another point that I feel that I must make nice and sparkling clear!!!! THIS IS NOT A SLASHER, CUT 'EM UP, GRINDHOUSE, RAUNCHY, GUT YOU LIKE A FISH HORROR FILM LIKE THE OVER PLAYED SAW FRANCHISE THAT SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO END!!!!! This is a respectable Gothic style horror film that needs to be appreciated for what it is. It uses symbolism throughout and even has some hidden commentary on society reflecting on such things as the torture conducted on individuals by terrorists or even the CIA with interrogations. It is a Gothic piece that stays in a dark, depressing, symbolic, and romantic atmosphere. It drives me nuts that people do not look for that in a film anymore, and because it doesn't show sex, drugs, and some psychopath hacking up idiotic teenagers people feel like they can go and give it a negative review.

A little piece of advice: IF YOU ARE GONNA REVIEW ALL FILMS BASED ON THAT IDEA YOU SHOULDN'T BE REVIEWING FILMS AT ALL!!!! The Wolfman is a monster movie; however, it is main focus that makes it a horror film is its violence and dark foreboding atmosphere. It also has terrific casting and acting as well as the perfect amount of death and carnage for any horror lover. There are some satisfying jump sequences along with a brutal as well as tragic storyline. I hope that everyone who reads this review will see this film with what I have said in mind!! Please show this film the respect it deserves unlike some people.