The Wolf Man (2025) – Horror/Thriller/Body-Horror
The Wolf Man (2025) is Universal and Blumhouse’s chilling reimagining of the classic monster, directed by Leigh Whannell. Known for The Invisible Man (2020), Whannell brings a fresh psychological and body-horror approach to the werewolf legend.
The story follows Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott), who returns with his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) to his childhood home in rural Oregon after his father mysteriously disappears. Their reunion is violently interrupted by a creature attack. Blake is bitten, and as the family barricades themselves inside, he undergoes horrifying changes that blur the line between man and beast.
Practical effects play a major role in the film, with makeup artist Arjen Tuiten crafting grotesque and unsettling transformations. Rather than leaning on jump scares or traditional full-moon lore, Whannell grounds the horror in body degeneration and psychological breakdown, drawing comparisons to Cronenberg’s The Fly.
Themes of toxic masculinity and generational trauma shape the narrative, making Blake’s transformation as much emotional as physical. His descent into monstrosity mirrors his fear of inheriting the darkness of his family’s past.
Released in U.S. theaters on January 17, 2025, The Wolf Man delivered a tense and atmospheric update on the Universal classic. Though reviews were mixed—some praised its ambition and unsettling imagery, while others criticized its murky ending—the film has been recognized for giving new emotional depth to one of horror’s most enduring creatures.
