Wolfen (1981)

Director:

Michael Wadleigh

Writers:

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

Release Date:

24 July 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

It will tear the scream from your throat.

Plot:

A New York cop investigates a series of brutal deaths that resemble animal attacks.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Wolf | Wolf Vision | El Train | Bar

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

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)

Filming Locations:

Charlotte Street, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Film Capital Associates

Trivia:

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

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."

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...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Perfect Fit (1985) (V)

Soundtrack:

Jitterbug Boy

Great twist on the usual man in monster suit shocker

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.