Wolfen

Rating:
Summary: Great 2/3rds of the way.
Review: Good gore, awesome cinematography (the point of view of the wolfen is astoundingly frightful), and one of Albert Finney's best performances (not to mention Gregory Hines' fine support) is done in by an incoherent ending that panders to Native Americans. Yes we know they've been wronged (let's support Indian gambling instead), but the horror value of this film (and the mystery it manages to build) is thrown out the window when the all-too-literal wrap-up is presented. Edward James Olsmos' character, and the heavy handed Native American subplot, seem totally out of place amid the originality of the rest of this, one of the finest horror films I've seen. It's definately worth watching, but that ending is really hard to swallow in my book.

Rating:
Summary: 3.5 stars, but good movie...
Review: Good movie. Great camerawork. Werewolf legends accurate (rare for werewolf movies, I'm sure). The only part I couldn't stand was that it became a substandard Indian-burialground let's-not-build-apartment-complexes-on-sacred-land movie at the end.

Not enough gore, either, but there is lots of atmosphere in the movie, and that kind of evens it out. If only all horror movies were this way...

Rating:
Summary: MOVIE DIFFERENT FROM BOOK. BOTH SMART, ENTERTAINING.
Review: Having read the book by Whitley Streiber, it's clear that the director of the movie took creative license. (There was no Indian and the Wolfen were not wolves, but werewolves). However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that both versions of the story worked well; with the movie having an interesting moralistic subplot. Although I enjoyed other werewolf movies ("American Werewolf in London" and the 1st "Howling"), "Wolfen" was refreshingly subtle in its depiction of the beast, giving only their perspective by using a "wolf cam." Thus, "Wolfen" is a good choice for those who enjoy intelligent thrillers as opposed to blood-splattering slice and dice horror films.

Rating:
Summary: Gothic Horror book turns into Horrendous Film
Review: I gave this one star because that's as low as this site goes. I was so absolutely taken with Whitley Streiber's novel that I could hardly wait for the film to come out. Talk about disappointment - I could hardly sit through the appalling drivel unfolding on the screen.I'm not a violent person but if I'd had the director/ screenplay writer within reach I believe I'd have killed them stone dead.
Admittedly, the title is the same and there are wolves involved but there the resemblance to the book ends. I hope Whitley Streiber was well paid for the butchering of his fine book and that he gives to a lot of charities.
Michael Wadleigh apparently directed this movie and unsurprisingly he never directed a movie again other than a couple of documentaries about Woodstock. He now works as a bus driver in Akron, Ohio.
If his bus driving is the same as his directing and screenplay then I'll go by cab.

Dave W

Rating:
Summary: One of the best films ever!
Review: I like most horror movies I see. Ussually cause they are entertaining because of terrible acting, horrible special effects and make up, and a bad plot. As I picked up "Wolfen" that's what I expected. But right after the first victims, I said to myself "What an amazing scene". And that is what I was aying throughout the film. I also loved the fact that it kepted true to Native American legends, and This is one my top ten movie list, which the film has to be spectacular or fun.

Rating:
Summary: Not my favorite, but still a pretty good movie
Review: I liked the idea behind the werewolf being a spirit connected with the Native Americans--I wanted to see more gore and more of the actual werewolf character itself. The movie really gets to a slow start, and doesn't really pick up until the middle- I think they could have done a lot more with this one.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutle horror satisfaction!!!
Review: I loved it. What a great movie. Wolfen is scary and it has that dark and slow plot that makes it effective. Just do not get attached to many of the main characters. The plot is quite original, and if ever was remade by todays standards would become an instant hit. Too bad it is very underrated. The last fifteen minutes or so of the movie happens suddenly, and man, it will raise the hair on the back of your neck. Are they real or not? You answer that question by seeing this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutle horror satisfaction!!!
Review: I loved it. What a great movie. Wolfen is scary and it has that dark and slow plot that makes it effective. Just do not get attached to many of the main characters. The plot is quite original, and if ever was remade by todays standards would become an instant hit. Too bad it is very underrated. The last fifteen minutes or so of the movie happens suddenly, and man, it will raise the hair on the back of your neck. Are they real or not? You answer that question by seeing this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible book 2 movie!
Review: i wish i could say i enjoyed this movie but if you read the book this movie is insulting to the original plot! Ok we know that movies have to divert from the novel but this was unreal. The novel based these creatures as been highly evolved and down right errie looking canines that appeared half ape half wolf ( the best way i can describe them ). So i sit down excited to see that one of my fav all time books is a movie and i find out they minaly used german shepards !!!! Please people and the story had been terribly distorted till hardly any of it's atmosphere and true scary momments were left. Not to say the movie didnt have the odd errie scene but they were few and far between. The novel set these creatures as deadly hunters in our midst for centuries hunting our weak and sick without us knowing. This in my mind was quite a scary notion and we thought them men turned into wolves because of their intelligence that matched our own. The writer created a rich and moody atmosphere and in my mind totally original plotlines. The movie toke all that goodness and basically ditched most of it! Unless your amused by DOGS running around and in the end them vanishing in what can only be described as a terrible ending ( these creatures were flesh and blood in the novel not wiggy spirits ) dont waste your time i LOVE werewolf flicks and believe me it's not often i say such negative things about a film but this is a BAD movie even if you you are unaware of the injustice it did the novel it's still a silly and badly made flick!

Rating:
Summary: Maybe Not What You Think, Only Better
Review: I've been watching the widescreen version of Wolfen on Laserdisc for about the last ten years. The DVD version is an absolute winner! Wolfen is a bit on the dark side, so the blacks of the DVD version are a significant improvement over VHS and Laserdisc versions. All around, the image and sound are really nice and 'crisp'.

Visually, Wolfen is great to watch, and set at a perfect time of the year for a 'New York' look and feel that fit the story perfectly. This isn't really a special effects movie, but it was apparently one of the first extensive applications of the 'Steadicam', here giving us the visual 'point of view' from something we don't even see until well into the movie. Like going to a Halloween party and looking through a mask but not knowing what you're wearing until later in the party. It's also given an 'infra-red' look, and, net-net, it doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure out we're not viewing things through the eyes of one of the Good Guys. Or are we?

James Horner's score is a perfect and haunting sound fit for the visuals and the story. (Interestingly, some of the recurring themes can be heard in another of his scores - Aliens, where they're again a perfect fit - don't argue with success).

Set in and reflecting the time and place it was filmed, Wolfen has some (then current) social and political twists used as plot devices. Given that, they're mostly necessary to the story, though occasionally over the top a bit and almost distracting, as is some of the background acting. During some of these side-trips, things slow down a little.

However, Albert Finney, Gregory Hines and Edward James Olmos make up for the slow spots and are the real gems in this. A joy to watch, they make their roles and characters credible and believable. Great anytime they're onscreen together or separately, watch them closely as each has as much going on with his expression as the dialogue - sometimes much more.

The stage is set with the double homicide of a very prominent New York couple couple in the wee morning hours in Battery Park, seemingly without a clear motive. Finney, as a homicide detective, and Hines, as one the Medical Examiner's staff, pursue leads which, shall we say, take increasingly unconventional directions. Meanwhile, the subplots provide for the alternative and conventional explanantions of the day - the rest of New York's Finest (and they really are) go after radicals, assisted by Executive Surveillance Systems, who "have resources" the police don't have - in other words, the requisite hokey computers and interesting capabilities movies gave them in those days. Olmos plays a Native American who works the high steel of The City, and who is an integral part of the plot.

Overall, this is a really good movie that combines a different and suspenseful story with main characters and actors who are really very good and believable. It's visually engaging, and the score fits it perfectly.

Wolfen is probably more in the 'horror' genre than anything else, but it won't be what you expect, especially if you look at the front of the cover jacket. Do yourself a favor - if you don't already know more about Wolfen than what you've read here, don't read anything else - just buy the movie and watch it. The surprises are important.