The Wolfman (2010)
When it comes to admiring an actor, Benicio Del Toro is at the top of my list of favorites. There are few who I would even consider as talented as he is. However, with each actor no matter how method they might be, there are always pieces of themselves hidden somewhere in the character. This is the very first time that I watched Benicio where I didn’t ‘hear’ Benicio. He was Lawrence Talbot from beginning to end. I sat in awe throughout the entire film.
I was one of the lucky few to see the trailer for The Wolfman before it was released publicly. Ever since that night I have waited anxiously to see this film. I was curious to see if Benicio would shine in this role as well. There is something about his demeanor that draws a person in. His eyes breathe both life and pain in every role. His intensity challenges even the strongest of personalities. I highly doubt anyone would want to stand toe to toe with him in a dark alley, especially after watching him in The Wolfman.
(Spoilers ahead).
If you’ve seen the original then you know the basic storyline. However, this version takes a somewhat different approach to the story. It was an ingenious way to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. There were plenty of unexpected scares, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. It was nice to watch with a fresh perspective. Although some of the dialogue boarded on the edge of being cheesy, our audience was very forgiving and laughed along with tongue in cheek.
It is a very dark and gruesome tale of a man bitten by a beast which alters his entire course in life. He is forced into a nightmare that is far worse than any of his childhood memories. Speaking of memories, the flashbacks used throughout the film were easy to follow from their clever way of transitions. Since most of the film takes place at night in a time where everything is lit by candlelight, it could have been easy to get lost between the past and the story’s present. They kept the line blurred both figuratively and literally, and if it wasn’t for the literal blurring it could have been confusing between what was real and what was memory.
The cast was amazing (also including great performances by Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins, and Hugo Weaving), the sets were incredible, and the visuals were stunning. Usually I turn away from gore, but you can’t help but watch the destruction. The scene at the asylum where the doctor is trying to prove Lawrence is crazy in front of an audience (and a full moon) is worth the price of admission.
It is a great story based film, driven by strong characters, and even though there is lots of gore, it still lives up to being a classic monster movie.
Rated R for bloody horror violence and gore.
