As a remake of a 1971 classic horror-thriller, The Wolfman will no doubt be a pleasant reminder of the theatrical, jumpy nature of flicks of that time: with its premise of a man returning home to investigate his brother's death, only to be plagued by a curse which transforms him into a feral beast come full moon, this 2010 motion picture is quickly set up as a tense and bloody brawler not for the faint of heart (most of its type rated 15 never are!), and bar its dreary opening does not let up an exhilarating pace throughout. Simon Merrelis gives us a realistic protagonist in Lawrence Talbort for the period of the 1700s, believable to the last in his interest in a family murder, grief and angst over keeping his potential lover safe from the curse, and his inevitable transformation into a heartless, powerful creature destined to either be killed by a silver bullet or reign terror over the streets of its hometown, while Anthony Hopkins and Hugo Weaving step in for some memorable cameos, including the former in an epic CGI battle come the film's climax. Where Wolfman finds its trouble is, strangely, in its all-out action: though we do feel sorrow for Talbort's transformation and troubles with his love, often the more emotionally charged scenes on display, though excellently performed, will be overlooked by viewers who were left so fuelled by the last fight scene that they simply want more blood and less romance, meaning this will quickly become known only for its heavy violence. Look past that striking flaw, however, and you'll find a nerve-wracking and ultimately tragic thriller that stuns with its fiery CGI, special effects and battles.
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