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Wolfen (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
24 July 1981 (USA) moreTagline:
It will tear the scream from your throat. morePlot:
A New York cop investigates a series of brutal deaths that resemble animal attacks. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
2 wins & 4 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Excl: The Nye Incidents , Making Aliens Scary Again (From shocktillyoudrop. 14 May 2009)
Lincoln Enters Dark Castle for Incidents
(From shocktillyoudrop. 21 April 2009)
User Comments:
Great twist on the usual man in monster suit shocker moreCast
(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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
115 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 moreCertification:
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
Goofs:
Continuity: During the night-vision scope/surveillance sequence with Dewey and Whittington, the scopes change angles and gain/lose sections from shot to shot. moreQuotes:
Dewey Wilson: They kill to protect family?Old Indian: In the end, it's all for the HUNTING GROUND.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Revenge of the Mooninites (#1.8)" (2002) moreSoundtrack:
Jitterbug Boy moreFAQ
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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.