Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Official monster remake is extra gory -- and a bit flat.
Parents Need to Know
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The Wolfman
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 22 parent reviews
Based on 23 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is excessively gory and violent, making it unsuitable for young audiences, with many parents recommending it only for those aged 14 and up due to graphic scenes. Despite the strong violence, some viewers appreciated the visual effects and performances, viewing it as a more engaging horror experience than other films in the genre.
- gory violence
- not for children
- strong performances
- visual effects
- age rating
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In 1891, actor Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) returns from America to his home in England, reunites with his father (Anthony Hopkins), and learns that his brother has just died after being brutally mauled by some horrible creature. He promises his brother's fiancée, Gwen (Emily Blunt), that he'll do what he can to find out what happened, but while on the hunt, he ends up being bitten. He survives the bite, but on the next full moon transforms into a rampaging wolf man. An agent from Scotland Yard (Hugo Weaving) captures him and throws him into an asylum ... but by the next full moon, Talbot realizes what he must do to stop the killing.
Is It Any Good?
The new WOLFMAN makes an earnest attempt to keep some of the spooky atmosphere and tragic character depth of its predecessor, along with the expected new, high levels of gore. But somehow the characters never spark to life, the atmosphere seems uncertain, and the bloody scenes wind up becoming the film's highlight.
It's as if, in their obsession with both updating and staying true to the source material, the filmmakers forgot the central theme: the battle between man's intellectual and primal sides. The movie never warms up enough to elicit any human emotions, nor does it ever cut loose enough to feel completely crazy. Del Toro, with his sad, soulful eyes, seems perfect to step into Lon Chaney Jr.'s shoes, but he doesn't show enough vulnerability; the character is too determined. Likewise, Blunt's character is underwritten and seems a waste of her talents. The original is still better.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the movie's violence and gore made them feel? Was it unsettling, or did you have another response? What about the nightmare sequences?
Talk about a person's "animal side" and "intellectual side." When do these sides come out in real life? When we're angry? When we're happy? How easy or difficult is it to control these sides?
The movie's second werewolf spent years locking himself up during full moons but eventually discovered that he enjoyed running free. Is it better to lock up your animal self or let it run free?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 12, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : June 1, 2010
- Cast : Anthony Hopkins , Benicio Del Toro , Emily Blunt
- Director : Joe Johnston
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : bloody horror violence and gore
- Last updated : September 15, 2022
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