“The Wolfman” is a remake of the 1941 movie of the same name. The main character, Lawrence Talbot (played by Benicio Del Toro) receives a letter requesting that he comes home to Blackmoor, England. He has been estranged from his family ever since his mother died. The letter is from his brother’s fiancée, Gwen, played by Emily Blunt. She writes Talbot to tell him that his brother is missing and to ask that he help search for him. Talbot arrives home to find that his brother’s body was found in a ditch savagely mauled. Talbot decides to stay and find out what happened to his brother. During his investigation he is attacked and bitten by the same creature that killed his sibling.
Benicio Del Toro, who is also one of the movie’s producers, looks and acts like a great tragic figure. He doesn’t need much dialogue to convey emotion and inner torment. Talbot is experiencing delusions and nightmares that terrify him and Del Toro shows it with minimal facial expressions. It’s a good thing he plays the victim well, as half the movie has him being tortured or hunted.
Hugo Weaving plays Inspector Abberline, sent to Blackmoor to investigate the attacks. He does not believe in the superstition of werewolves that the locals are obsessing about.His disbelief is thwarted in the most overdramatic way possible: a public disaster that endangers hundreds.
Anthony Hopkins plays Sir John Talbot, Lawrence’s father. Hopkins is brilliant as Sir John, yet remains distant and unemotional. He also has some of the best lines in the movie. The only problem is that most of his lines were rushed and did not have the proper emphasis. When he is speaking about his dead wife he tells Lawrence, “I loved her. I really did,” yet manages to avoid the correct intonation and pauses between words, leading to a convoluted mess. His very presence was great but his delivery was off.
The music, composed by Danny Elfman, is phenomenal. It builds suspense to the point that listening to a certain melody being repeated a few times has you twisting in your seat in anticipation for whatever might happen next.
This movie is entertaining. While some of the scenes are poorly paced, the actors are perfectly cast. The visuals of Blackmoor and London were appropriately dark and gloomy, which, combined with the music, lend the perfect setting to this sinister film.