KSL Movie Show review: ‘Wolf Man’ stands out from the standard horror

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SALT LAKE CITY — I was going to begin this review with some cheeky phrase like, “Well, it’s no Twilight … ”  But comparing the feral Wolf Man in this movie to the strapping dog boys in the Twilight Saga is like saying the Jurassic Park T-Rex is just a hop, skip and a claw away from Barney the Dinosaur.  My gut says nope, my heart says … also nah.  

So, what’s so new and different about this version of Wolf Man?

Before I get into all that, here’s the storyline.

Related: KSL Movie Show review: ‘Nosferatu’ is unintentionally the comedy of the year

A young Blake (Zac Chandler) lives a rigid, almost military life with his tough-love dad deep in the mountains of Central Oregon.  One day while hunting, they come across a mysterious creature that chases them up into a deer hunting blind.  Blake has never seen his father so terrified as they hear the creature climbing up the ladder. But at the last second, an elk distracts the beast. It trounces off and easily kills the animal, takes a few bites and disappears.  Having caught just glimpses, Blake’s dad is convinced they have just witnessed a creature known in these woods as “face of a wolf.”  

Thirty years have passed, Blake (Christopher Abbott) now lives in San Francisco with his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and his daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth).  He has not been back to his dad’s farm in ages when he learns that his father (Sam Jaeger) has disappeared and has finally been presumed dead.  Which means now Blake must return to gather his father’s belongings. Also getting a chance to give Charlotte and Ginger a taste of where he grew up.

Let’s just say a welcoming committee of one will be waiting. The three do manage to get to the farmhouse and barricade the door from whatever nightmare is lurking outside.  Oh and said creature scratches Blake on the arm, so we have that little upcoming scenario to deal with. 

And here is where this horror story hits its stride. As Blake is slowly changing, Charlotte is trying to be supportive, but realizes that her priority is protecting Ginger.  She comforts Blake, but also tries to figure out how the heck they’re going to get out of this dilemma. 

All the while, Blake has made it clear that based on what a tyrant his father was, that he was going to nurture and protect his little family no matter what.  That’s his job. Plus he and his daughter have a close bond, all which will be tested mightily. 

So far, nothing too unusual, but here’s where the difference and some real creativity comes into play.  Director Leigh Whannell does this cool thing of projecting the sounds and visuals from the perspective of first the emerging creature within Blake, then to Charlotte.  Blake’s advancing senses are cleverly accentuated. From hearing a spider climbing a wall like a 400 lb. gorilla to stalking his prey in the dark with near perfect clarity.  And even though they are both trying to verbally console the other, it comes off as gibberish in the other’s ears.  An interesting effect – putting us inside the minds of the characters. 

So for that reason, “Wolf Man” stands out from the standard horror offering. It actually gives one something to think about and appreciate – which I decidedly did and do. 

WOLF MAN (B+) Rated R for bloody violent content, grisly images and some language. Starring Julia Garner, Christopher Abbott, Matilda Firth, Zac Chandler and Sam Jaeger. Co-written and directed by Leigh Whannell (“The Invisible Man” “Insidious: Chapter 3”) – filmed in New Zealand. Running time: 103 minutes. 

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.