Wolfen

After years of reading and watching all the werewolf stuff I can get my hands on, I finally got around to reading and then watching Wolfen, and I was blown away by the gorgeous, chilling cinematography. You may take me at my word that I have seldom seen a film that was able to build the tension of what you don't see, and reward you when you finally do see it: I have never seen real wolves used so well, or shot so beautifully. As in the book, the Wolfen are both terrifying and yet somehow noble, and you respect the antagonism between them and the human characters (played very well by Albert Finney and co.), and while the ending is somewhat anticlimactic as opposed to its book counterpart, I was still quite pleased with the film as a whole. The introduction of the Native American element into the movie's version of the story made sense and was enjoyable (though E.J. Olmos's nudity was a little much), and I should also mention that the shots of New York were atmospheric and gorgeous as well, and when combined with the werewolf element, make a truly one-of-a-kind horror film. A must for werewolf fans, though they're not werewolves in the strictest sense, but a creatures as unique as their film: The Wolfen.

I first saw this in the late 80s on a vhs. Found it to be a lil dull then but after revisiting few days back I found it to b a very different take on the wolf genre with theme of ecological imbalances n deforestation. The movie suffered cos it released in the same year as The Howling and An American Werewolf in London. While the latter two became very famous werewolves flicks, Wolfen became an obscured one. Wolfen also lacked the transformation scenes. The plot - A rich man, his wife n their tall n heavy built chauffeur r killed in a gruesome manner. The driver has his hand severed before he can shoot. A burnt out detective (Albert Finney) is called in to investigate along with a female reporter. Forensic evidence points towards wolf species but authorities r suspicious with a terrorist organisation n our detective gets curious with Native American theories on shapeshifting creatures. The director being a cinematographer, some scenes r shown thru the pov of the creatures with mounting tension. There is a very lousy voyeuristic sex scene again thru the pov of the creatures. The film does get a lil tensed towards the ending with the revelations n a decapitation scene.

When a famous tycoon, his wife, and his bodyguard are brutally murdered in Battery Park, a cynical detective (Albert Finney) is assigned to the case. With help from a police psychologist (Diane Venora), a colorful coroner (Gregory Hines), and a weirdo zoologist (Tom Noonan), his investigation leads him to suspect a Native American connection to the killings.

A great thriller with horror overtones that's a different kind of werewolf film than any other (certainly at the time of release). Many argue it isn't really a werewolf film at all. I can see why they'd say that but I think it obviously counts as one. The film is directed by Michael Wadleigh, whose only other directorial effort was the Woodstock documentary. It's a shame he didn't do more because he does show a good deal of talent here. Predator fans will notice this movie uses a similar visual technique for the wolves' point of view, including similar sound effects, years before the first Predator movie. The cast is excellent and the script is pretty good, if a little packed. Nice cinematography from Gerry Fisher and use of actual Bronx locations helps in creating a fine atmosphere. It's a very interesting film that tackles a number of subjects (probably too many). Monster movie fans might balk at the lack of any "wolf men," but the strength of the movie is not in its special effects or gore, but in its story and how it's presented. Keep an open mind and give it a shot and I'm sure you'll find something to like about Wolfen. I've seen it a few times now and each time it gets better.

Wolfen is absolutely a classic of the horror genre. Released in succession after the likes of Altered States, The Howling and An American Werewolf in London it actually provides more tension than the rest because it doesn't overdo the creature effects. The Howling is probably the most famous of the three films yet after purchasing and watching the blu-ray I realized something 33 years later... It's just not scary. The transformations are graphic but feel too long and drawn out now. As an adult I find that werewolves just are no longer scary. Neither is Dracula. At least American Werewolf was funny and had a charismatic lead. Where Wolfen exceeds it's genre roots is in it's attention to plot details and character development. Albert Finney is believable as a burned out cop and Gregory Hines is a treat as his co- star/sidekick the coroner. There are scenes in this film that work on a suspense level that few others can muster and the abandoned tenements provide a creepy location for their two man reconnaissance. As far as 80's horror goes this is essential viewing.

Director and cinematographer Michael Wadleigh is best known for his three-hour counterculture epic Woodstock, the iconic document of the 1969 music festival. The Ohio native only made one non-fiction feature and that was 1981's phantasmagorical noir thriller Wolfen. Steeped in Native American folklore, the film sees a desert dry Albert Finney investigate a series of gruesome and strange murders in downtown Manhattan and the Bronx. With a serious head of hair, Finney's character Dewey Wilson is given some razor sharp one-liners. You'd have loved to see this protagonist in another movie. Wadleigh uses many thermographic steady cam shots to convey the otherworldly subjective point of view of the killer, a technique that would inspire future movies like Predator. And New York City itself has never looked so ominous, where every shadow might grow a pair of fangs and demonic red eyes. There's many other impressive elements, from Edward James Olmos' small but key performance as Eddie Holt, Gregory Hines as the coroner-cum-comic-relief, Gerry Fisher's dreamlike cinematography and James Horner's fine score. In one particularly gasp-inducing scene, Wilson climbs to the top of the Manhattan bridge to interview Holt, who's a construction worker. I've never seen that landmark used on-screen in such a startling, nail-biting fashion. Wolfen is a forgotten gem. Give it a look.