Movies

The New Wolf Man’s Ending: A Failed Attempt to Add Depth to the Original Story

BBG News

In February 2020, Leigh Whannell’s contemporary take on “The Invisible Man” was released in cinemas, earning praise as a skillful remake that subtly reinterpreted the 1933 Universal classic to reflect the dangers of gaslighting and domestic abuse by cleverly reversing its narrative.

In cinemas now, “Wolf Man” represents Universal’s latest endeavor to rejuvenate one of their iconic monster franchises for modern audiences. However, despite the horror-infused creature film seeming to convey a particular message about harmful masculinity and ending patterns of inherited emotional wounds, it finds it challenging to effectively combine its “family under threat” narrative with a unified message.

The set-up for a modern take on the story

The film begins with a prologue introducing us to young Blake Lovell, portrayed by Zac Chandler as a child and Christopher Abbott as an adult. Living in a secluded farmhouse in rural Oregon, Blake is raised under the strict tutelage of his difficult, survivalist father Grady (played by Sam Jaeger). The opening scenes give us a glimpse into the challenging circumstances of growing up with an abusive parent.

While hunting one day, Blake and his father cross paths with a creature – a wolf-human hybrid residing in the nearby forest, apparently brought about by a hiker contracting a strange infection. Later that night, Blake listens as Grady communicates with another survivalist via radio, planning to eliminate the wolf man for the safety of his son. However, it’s not the wolf man that truly terrifies Blake; rather, he lives in constant fear of his domineering father.

Thirty years after living in San Francisco with his career-driven wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth), Blake, who is primarily a stay-at-home dad, receives news that Grady, an estranged relative, has been declared dead by the state of Oregon. With concerns about his marriage’s stability and wanting to refresh family dynamics, he persuades Charlotte and Ginger to spend their summer at his childhood home in the wilderness for a simplified living experience.

The remaining part of the film unfolds during one dramatic night, as the family’s journey is disrupted by a car crash followed by an encounter with the werewolf, who relentlessly pursues them all the way to Grady’s old house, compelling them to fortify themselves within. Sadly, Blake sustains injuries from the werewolf’s claws during the chaos and is already destined for death, although he may not be aware of it straight away, even as they reach a seemingly safe location.

Key updates to the 1941 original

Individuals who have watched director George Waggner’s 1941 film “The Wolf Man,” Universal’s second venture into werewolf cinema after the financial disappointment of 1935’s “Werewolf of London,” may recognize some recurring storyline elements by now. The initial story revolves around Lon Chaney Jr.’s character, Larry Talbot, who travels to his Welsh family home following his brother’s death in a hunting mishap. Upon arrival, he reconnects with his distant father, John Talbot (Claude Rains), and develops feelings for Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Ankers), the daughter of a local antique shop owner. In an attempt to protect one of Gwen’s friends, Larry is bitten by a mysterious creature, leading him to be afflicted with a curse that causes him to transform into a wolf-like being during full moons.

In this film, during his latest transformation into a permanent lycanthrope (which isn’t linked to the moon as in traditional lore), Blake starts showing more and more aggressive behavior towards his wife and daughter. This was precisely what he had been dreading all along, as he previously warned Ginger that “Being a dad sometimes makes you so afraid of your children getting hurt that you might end up causing them harm yourself.

Ultimately, when the werewolf, who turns out to be Blake’s father, breaks into the house, Blake displays enough remnants of humanity to defend his family and eliminate the creature. It’s at this moment that he discovers the horrifying truth – he is destined for the same cursed existence as his father. This twist departs from the original storyline, where John accidentally kills Larry while he’s in his wolf form, and marks a thematic turning point where things become increasingly complex.

An ending with more questions than answers

Up until the movie’s conclusion, Blake’s portrayal reveals him as a loving father who is cherished by his daughter and prompt in recognizing any harmful behavior within himself, striving to break free from the pattern of toxic fatherhood. However, despite this positive depiction, the film ends with Charlotte being compelled to euthanize “wolf-Blake” for their safety, creating a finale that leaves room for intriguing and thought-provoking questions about the story’s intended message.

Was Blake genuinely a devoted family man, or had he harbored a hidden darkness all along? Could he ever recover from his past wounds, or would they forever shape his identity? Is it fate for a person’s transgressions to be passed down to their offspring? It’s intriguing to leave the audience pondering, but walking that fine line between stimulating thought and plunging them into the murky depths of symbolism.

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2025-01-18 02:09

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