Why Benicio? Why?
Benicio Del Toro’s The Wolfman is an update of the popular 1941 Lon Chaney film of the same name. The story is essentially the same, albeit far more violent and bloody. The film opens with a full moon, telling us the true culprit of the horror that is to come. From there the world of early 20th century England is revealed. She’s dirty, wet, and dark like any classic horror story. The production design is one of two things that stood out. The second being the makeup.
I appreciate the attempt to maintain some continuity in creature design from the original. Obviously 1941 had many limitations in the world of special effects. Limitations that don’t exist today. Without limitations it’s easy to go over the top with design in an attempt to create something scarier. The filmmakers were a little over the top with the gore, however.
The Wolfman tells the story of Lawrence Talbot, a Shakespearean actor, long estranged from his family, who returns to his childhood home upon hearing that his brother has been violently murdered by some kind of beast. Anthony Hopkins plays Sir John Talbot, Lawrence’s father. The film follows Lawrence’s investigation of and transformation into the beast.
All of these things seem to be the making of a fun movie. I’m not going to venture too far and say good because this isn’t that kind of movie and I don’t think it was intended to be anything other than fun. Unfortunately it turned out to not even be a fun movie. Benicio obviously didn’t want to be there. I will go out on a limb and say this is by far his worst performance. Keep in mind I have seen Excess Baggage, that shitty little movie he made with Alicia Silverstone.
As I watched, I wondered if somehow he made a deal with the studio that he would do this if they funded some future project or maybe this was what he had to do to make Che. And when exactly did Anthony Hopkins stop being a good actor? He seems to be going the way of Patrick Stewart. A great actor that will do anything in Hollywood for a paycheck. Seriously, when has Patrick Stewart ever made a good movie? Never. He’s made throwaway Hollywood bullshit, but he’s never taken a chance on-screen like he has on stage.
The film is ultimately boring and predictable. At least five people walked out during my screening. I haven’t seen a movie in years that five people have walked out on. I don’t think the movie was walk-out-bad, but definitely don’t walk-in-bad. The mistake made in this production of The Wolfman is not hitting the right audience. If the gore and blood had been toned down to a PG-13 level I’d be singing a different tune. The movie would still suck, but with PG-13 kids would be able to see it, and the movie might have been able to scare the pants off a few of them. I’m a huge fan of scaring children. Huge. Like driving really fast through school crossings, just to hear them scream huge.
I’m kidding. You should never do that. Ever. Well, unless…wait, no never. I don’t want to be sued because some jack ass blames me for their kid killing joyride. Don’t kill kids and don’t watch The Wolfman.
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