Film #136 - Wolf (1994)
Viewed May 16, 2006
Wolf is a nice throwback to old school horror films, with just enough modern updates to keep things fresh. Some dodgy effects are more than compensated for by excellent performances by a top notch cast.
This film is, essentially, an update to the classic werewolf story made famous by Lon Chaney, Jr. in the series of Universal films that began with 1941’s The Wolf Man. The basic setup is the same: fundamentally decent man gets bitten by wolf and deals with the consequences of that fateful encounter. Where it differs is the nature of the man’s life and circumstances and the resolution of his fate.
Director Mike Nichols does a very good job of balancing the horror aspects with the more light-hearted and romantic parts of the film. He doesn’t let the comedy or romance get in the way, nor does he allow the film to descend into gore (for the most part). If he’s not that strong in the action sequences, it doesn’t ruin the experience.
Wolf is obviously Jack Nicholson’s showcase and he rises to the challenge easily. He conveys the positive and negative aspects of Will Randall’s personality and keeps them consistant within his performance. In “Wolf Man” form, he is totally within the moment, more than able to let loose when necessary (much as he did as the Joker in 1989’s Batman). I can’t help but wonder if Nicholson’s years with Roger Corman are what help him do so well with make-up laden roles like these.
Michelle Pfeiffer comes off a bit too cold and never really gets a chance to fully flesh out her role, but she brings her natural screen presence and at least makes her character sympathetic. James Spader isn’t given a lot of complexity either, but plays his typical smarmy jackass with great relish. The rest of the supporting cast are right on the mark. No one really stands out in my mind, but that’s just an indication of how comfortably they fill their roles.
If the film has a true weak point, it is the end. As I stated earlier, the action sequences are mostly effective, but there are plenty of obvious stunt doubles, dummies and just plain muddy action to keep them from being perfect. And, honestly, Spader’s makeup never quite works as well as Nicholson’s does.
I certainly enjoyed Wolf and I think it does a better job of capturing the feel of older horror films than, say, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) or any of the spate of over-the-top horror films that have become so popular these days.