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IMDb > Wolfen (1981)
Wolfen
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Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   2,990 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Whitley Strieber (novel)
David Eyre (screen story and screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Wolfen on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 July 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
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:
Awards:
2 wins & 4 nominations more
User Reviews:
Sharp teeth and an intelligent screenplay! more (74 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
John McCurry ... Sayad Alve
Chris Manor ... Janitor
Donald Symington ... Lawyer
Jeffery Ware ... Interrogation Operator
E. Brian Dean ... Fouchek
Jeffery V. Thompson ... Harrison (as Jeffery Thompson)
Victor Arnold ... Roundenbush

Frank Adonis ... Scola
Richard Minchenberg ... Policeman
Raymond Serra ... Detective (as Ray Serra)
Thomas Ryan ... Detective
Tony Latham ... Victim
David Connell ... Victim
Jery Hewitt ... Victim
Roy Brocksmith ... Fat Jogger in Park (as Ray Brocksmith)
Michael Wadleigh ... Terrorist Informer
Joaquin Rainbow ... Native American
John Ferraro ... Native American
Rino Thunder ... Native American
Glenn Benoit ... Native American
Eddy Navas ... Native American
Ricky Hawkeye ... Native American
Pete Dyer ... Native American
Paul Skyhorse ... Native American
Gordon Eagle ... Native American
Javier First-Day-Of-Light ... Native American
George Stonefish ... Native American
Julie Evening Lilly ... Native American
Jane Lind ... Native American
Annie Gagen ... ESS Operator
Max Goff ... ESS Operator
Cullen Johnson ... ESS Operator
Robert L. King ... ESS Operator
Robert Moberly ... ESS Operator
Caitlin O'Heaney ... ESS Operator
Tony Stratta ... ESS Operator
William Sheridan ... ESS Operator
Linda Gary ... ESS Voice (voice)

Charles Howerton ... ESS Voice (voice) (as Charles Howerdton)
Burr DeBenning ... ESS Voice (voice)

Corey Burton ... ESS Voice (voice)
Patricia Parris ... ESS Voice (voice) (as Pat Parris)
Andre Stojka ... ESS Voice (voice)
Dan Sturkie ... ESS Voice (voice)
Mel Welles ... ESS Voice (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Daniel D. Halleck ... (uncredited)

Tom Waits ... Drunken Bar Owner (uncredited)
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Directed by
Michael Wadleigh 
 
Writing credits
Whitley Strieber (novel)

David Eyre (screen story and screenplay) and
Michael Wadleigh (screen story and screenplay)

Eric Roth  uncredited

Produced by
Rupert Hitzig .... producer
Alan King .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
James Horner 
 
Cinematography by
Gerry Fisher 
 
Film Editing by
Marshall M. Borden 
Martin J. Bram 
Dennis Dolan 
Chris Lebenzon 
 
Casting by
Cis Corman 
 
Production Design by
Paul Sylbert 
 
Art Direction by
David Chapman 
 
Set Decoration by
Alan Hicks 
 
Costume Design by
John Boxer 
 
Makeup Department
Frank Bianco .... hair stylist
Carl Fullerton .... special makeup effects artist
Allen Weisinger .... makeup artist
Michael R. Thomas .... gore makeup (uncredited)
 
Production Management
G. Mac Brown .... assistant production manager
William C. Gerrity .... unit production manager
Peter R. McIntosh .... location unit manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Barnett .... first assistant director
Steven Felder .... first assistant director
Stephen A. Glanzrock .... second assistant director
Alex Hapsas .... first assistant director
Hall Hitzig .... second assistant director
Rupert Hitzig .... second unit director
Deborah L. Marrs .... dga trainee (as Debbie Marrs)
 
Art Department
Billy Bishop .... prop assistant (as William Bishop)
Edward Garzero .... key scenic artist
James Halligan .... construction grip (as Jim Halligan)
Richard Hughes .... key scenic artist
George Kousoulides .... scenic artist
Herbert F. Mulligan .... set dresser (as Herb Mulligan)
Carlos Quiles .... chief carpenter (as Carlos Quiles Sr.)
Jimmy Raitt .... property master
Richard Shelton .... painter
Eoin Sprott .... special property designer (as Eion Sprott)
Bobby Wilson .... props assistant
Richard M. Kristy .... lead man: second unit (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Lon Bender .... sound effects editor (as Lon E. Bender)
Jim Bryan .... sound editor
Jay Cassidy .... dialogue editor
James A. Corbett .... sound re-recording mixer
Joanne D'Antonio .... dialogue editor
Jill Demby .... dialogue editor
John Duffy .... sound effects editor
John Fundus .... boom operator
Stan Gilbert .... sound effects editor
Robert Grieve .... sound effects designer
Robert Grieve .... sound effects supervisor
Scott Hecker .... foley editor
Randy Kelley .... sound effects editor
Andrew London .... sound effects designer
Andrew London .... sound effects supervisor
John M. Lowry .... assistant sound effects editor
Dennis Maitland .... sound mixer (as Dennis Maitland Sr.)
Kim Maitland .... sound recordist
Charles McCann .... dialogue editor
Anthony Milch .... sound editor
Anthony Milch .... sound effects editor
Michael Minkler .... sound re-recording mixer
Donald Ortiz .... assistant sound effects editor
Ken S. Polk .... sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Richardson .... sound effects editor (as Paul Bruce Richardson)
John Roesch .... foley sound designer
John Roesch .... foley sound supervisor
Robert R. Rutledge .... foley editor
Robert R. Rutledge .... foley sound designer
Robert R. Rutledge .... foley sound supervisor
Marvin Walowitz .... sound effects editor
Burton Weinstein .... dialogue editor
Samuel C. Crutcher .... sound editor/design (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Connie Brink .... special effects (as Conrad Brink)
Ron Ottesen .... special effects
Bill Traynor .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Robert Blalack .... special visual effects
Beth Block .... optical supervisor
Betzy Bromberg .... visual effects group
Laurel Klick .... visual effects group
Candace Lewis .... visual effects group
Sarah Pasanen .... visual effects group
Chris Regan .... visual effects group
Nancy Rushlow .... visual effects group
Jonathan Seay .... visual effects cameraman
Donna Tracy .... visual effects group
Anne Van Der Vort .... visual effects group
David Merritt .... visual effects: Praxis Filmworks (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Bill Anagnos .... stunts
Glenn Benoit .... stunts
Lisa Cain .... stunts
Tony Farentino .... stunts
Janis Feiger .... stunts
Tim Gallin .... stunts
Ricky Hawkeye .... stunts
Jery Hewitt .... stunts
Steve James .... stunts
Richard Kline .... stunts
Victor Magnotta .... stunt coordinator
Pat Miller .... stunts
Edgard Mourino .... stunts
Eddy Navas .... stunts
Joaquin Rainbow .... stunts
Konrad Sheehan .... stunts
Tony Stratta .... stunts
Nicholas Toth .... stunts
Victoria Vanderkloot .... stunt performer
Victoria Vanderkloot .... stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Fredric Abeles .... director of photography: New York (as Fred Abeles)
Bob Bailin .... insert photography (as Robert Bailin)
Don Biller .... second assistant camera
Garrett Brown .... Steadicam photographer
John Burke .... electrician (as John F. Burke)
Michael Burke .... electrician (as Mike Burke)
Ted Churchill .... additional Steadicam operator
Ken Connors .... best boy
John Donahue .... grip
Russell Engels .... gaffer (as Rusty Engels)
Vinnie Gerardo .... assistant camera
Christopher T. Gerrity .... grip (as Chris Gerrity)
Michael Ginsburg .... still photographer
Jim Hovey .... first assistant camera
Dan Lerner .... additional Steadicam operator
Sal Martorano .... electrician
Billy Miller .... key grip
Mike Miller .... grip
Tom Priestley Jr. .... camera operator
Andy Romanoff .... crane operator: Louma crane
Don Stern .... insert photography
 
Casting Department
Joy Todd .... extras casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
William Loger .... wardrobe supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Terrisa Algarin .... apprentice editor
Donah Bassett .... negative cutter
Mary Bauer .... assistant editor
Destiny Borden .... apprentice editor
Marshall M. Borden .... post-production executive
Anita Brandt-Burgoyne .... apprentice editor (as Anita Brandt)
John C. Broderick .... editor: New York (as Jordan Leondopoulos)
Cathy Carr .... negative cutter
Arthur Coburn .... post-production coordinator
Rudolph Freeman .... assistant editor
Tracy Granger .... assistant/apprentice editor
Thure Gustafson .... assistant editor
Howard Heard .... assistant editor
Robert W. Hedland .... assistant editor
Darren T. Holmes .... apprentice editor (as Darren Holmes)
Milan Klein .... assistant editor
Kevin Lee .... assistant editor
Richard Nord .... assistant editor
Cecilia Reyes .... apprentice editor
William Sands .... assistant editor
Randy D. Thornton .... assistant editor (as Randy Thornton)
Jacque Elaine Toberen .... post-production coordinator (as Jaque Toberen)
Camilla Toniolo .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Bob Badami .... music editor (as Robert Badami)
Kenneth Karman .... music editor
Dan Wallin .... music scoring mixer
James Horner .... conductor (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
James Fanning .... transportation captain
Bobby Marsh .... driver
 
Other crew
Patricia Barrow .... photo researcher (as Pat Barrow)
Patricia Barrow .... production assistant (as Pat Barrow)
Susan Bednarczyk .... assistant production coordinator
Jack Benson .... production assistant
Michael Besman .... production assistant
Destiny Borden .... assistant to producer
Timothy J. Burke .... production assistant (as Timothy Burke)
Al Cerullo .... helicopter pilot
Martha De Laurentiis .... assistant: Cis Corman (as Martha Schumacher)
David De Lia .... production assistant
Jonathan Filley .... production assistant
Wayne Fitzgerald .... title designer
Janiss Garza .... production assistant
Sidney Gecker .... script supervisor
Dulcinda Gose .... researcher
Daniel D. Halleck .... production assistant
Jeff D. Haynes .... animal trainer
Rupert Hitzig .... unit director
Joe Hornok .... animal trainer (as Joe Hornak)
John Kane .... unit publicist
Brooke Kennedy .... assistant to location coordinator
Anne Kingman Page .... assistant: Mr. Wadleigh
Adeline Leonard Seakwood .... production coordinator
Paula Mazur .... production assistant
Lauren McGowan .... production assistant
Bruce Sands .... production assistant
Patricia Sibley .... assistant to producer
Lucille Smith .... production accountant (as Lucille Masone Cannon)
Bruce Stoff .... production assistant
George Toth .... animal supervisor
Nicholas Toth .... animal trainer
Helena Walsh .... animal trainer
Jerry Winikoff .... production assistant
 

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Additional Details

Runtime:
115 min
Country:
Language:
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:
Director Michael Wadleigh's only non-Woodstock related film. more
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. more
Quotes:
[about the wolves]
Old Indian: They're shiftless. They might be gods!
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Jitterbug Boy more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
21 out of 26 people found the following review useful.
Sharp teeth and an intelligent screenplay!, 12 April 2004
7/10
Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls

Wolfen – not wolves, like a terrifically spiritual Edward James Olmos explains it to us – is a truly inspired and solid horror film that belongs to the best genre-achievements of the 80's. Terrifically set in the pauperized wastelands of New York, where an ancient terror unconquerably reigns. Only when someone of political importance vanishes in these suburbs, attention is drawn and an investigation is started. Albert Finney is well cast as the confused police officer who slowly has to face the fact that the murders in his district are committed by inhumanly strong forces, more and more resembling to animal attacks. The script of Wolfen (based on Whitley Strieber's novel) is a compelling one and it's filled with original and imaginative ideas containing spiritual motivations and even historical elements. A basic script like that, accompanied by a stunning photography and convincing acting can only result in a terrific, overlooked horror classic. Two thumbs up for this film! Director Wadleigh even satisfied the more mainstream horror fans as his film includes a couple of bloody killing sequences and a constant frightening tone. Finney and Edward James Olmos are the most impressive cast members, yet they receive good feedback from Tom Noonan (in one of his earliest roles), Gregory Hines (I don't believe I ever saw him in a horror film before) and Diane Verona. Fans of action-packed werewolf film may face a disappointment when purchasing this film, but all other open-minded cinema audiences are in for a really pleasant surprise. Wolfen is highly recommended and thought-provoking entertainment!

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