Wolf Man

Wolf Man is another modern day reinvention of a classic universal monster from Leigh Whannell that has a strong idea on how to reframe it's titular creature by turning it into a metaphor for toxic masculinity/generational trauma and the inspirations are lovingly homaged but unfortunately this one just burns too slowly and feels too rough around the edges to fully cohere like this concept should despite some great individual moments.

Christopher Abbott is really good as a full time father trying his best to be a good dad even as he struggles with his own upbringing and desperately wants to prevent the cycle repeating itself. As he (very) slowly morphs into a monster he does a good job of retaining some humanity as it begins to disappear visually. Julia Garner gains agency as it goes along and is very convincing when it comes to looking terrified.

Leigh Whannell's direction does some inventive things throughout however when compared to his previous two efforts it undoubtedly feels like a big step down. The opening is really effective and rife with tension plus there's a couple of well crafted scares afterwards. Stefan Duscio's cinematography retains some of that Upgrade energy even if it's too few and far between and the sound design does a fantastic job of communicating Abbott's shifting senses.