IMDb > Wolfen (1981)
Wolfen
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Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   2,940 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 18% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Michael Wadleigh

Writers:

Whitley Strieber (novel)
David Eyre (screen story and screenplay) ...
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Contact:

View company contact information for Wolfen on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

24 July 1981 (USA) more

Genre:

Horror | Thriller more

Tagline:

It will tear the scream from your throat. more

Plot:

A New York cop investigates a series of brutal deaths that resemble animal attacks. full summary | add synopsis

Plot Keywords:

more

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations more

User Comments:

Great twist on the usual man in monster suit shocker more (72 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Albert Finney ... Dewey Wilson

Diane Venora ... Rebecca Neff

Edward James Olmos ... Eddie Holt

Gregory Hines ... Whittington
Tom Noonan ... Ferguson

Dick O'Neill ... Warren
Dehl Berti ... Old Indian

Peter Michael Goetz ... Ross
Sam Gray ... Mayor
Ralph Bell ... Commissioner
Max M. Brown ... Christopher van der Veer
Anne Marie Pohtamo ... Pauline van der Veer
Sarah Felder ... Cicely Rensselaer
Reginald VelJohnson ... Morgue Attendant
James Tolkan ... Baldy
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Additional Details

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (MegaSound encoding) (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1989) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1987) | France:U | Australia:M | Norway:15 | UK:18 | West Germany:16 | USA:R (certificate #26425)


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

A specific day-for-night shooting process was used to create the nocturnal point of view of the "killers". more

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the doctor is riding his motorbike through the tunnel and spots the wolf, he is mouthing "Help me," repeatedly, but we don't hear his voice. At the end, he says, "Oh my god," but is still mouthing, "Help me." more

Quotes:

[Eddie and Dewey are up on the top of a bridgeworks]
Eddie Holt: Shape shifting. We do it for kicks. Turn yourself into a different animal. One night a deer, next night a salmon...
Dewey Wilson: Or a wolf?
Eddie Holt: Sure.
[Eddie unhooks Dewey's safety line]
Eddie Holt: Or an eagle.
[Dewey looks down, a long way... ]
Eddie Holt: C'mon Dewey, just flap your arms and jump, its easy. It's all in the head.
Dewey Wilson: That would be murder. You wouldn't kill anyone else, would you?
Eddie Holt: That's what they pay you to find out...
more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Perfect Fit (1985) (V) more

Soundtrack:

Jitterbug Boy more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
Great twist on the usual man in monster suit shocker, 30 January 2004
10/10
Author: Dan Temple (dantemple-1) from Leeds England

Wolfen is something different to the many monster films floating around. If you watch this film expecting to see the usual mix of no brain slash and gore then you will perhaps be disappointed or as was in my case pleasantly surprised. Reading from other comments on this film it is easy to see that it has been widely misunderstood.

Wolfen is not a Werewolf/Horror film although at times it does attempt to be so, which is where the confusion arises for the viewer. On one side we have the Wolfen portrayed as highly evolved beings merely protecting their environment yet on the other side they shown to be remorseless killers as and where the plot dictates. However do not let this paradox put you off a film that is both scary and genuinely thought provoking.

The scenes set in and around areas of urban decay, particularly that of the church, are chilling and suspenseful. Whilst the Wolfen POV camera work is groundbreaking and still effective by today's standards. Wolfen on the whole is a well made film, excellent use of music (or lack of it)to generate suspense and quality actors and acting help bring you into the story behind the Wolfen.

For those that wish to critisise the beach scene when Edward James Olmos dances naked across the sand as demeaning to Indians, well I think they're rather missing the point. Surely the film is trying to show the prejudices of Albert Finney's character rather than belittle any Indian custom.

In summary a film with a message that chooses to show intelligence and reason in its horrors.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Wolfen (1981)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
DVD commentary track... Mod1911
I've never seen it, so... vinchenzo19
petition for a Wolfen remake RobArdern
Predator vision and Wolfen vision? Alfabeta
Filming Sites bruce-watson71
WOLFEN Found in Horror 4-Pack at CC cgallo
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