There is no better feeling for a moviegoer than having his or her reservations about a specific film dispelled and the film proving to be a satisfying experience. Michael Wadleigh’s Wolfen (1981) is one such example.
Inspector Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney) is investigating gruesome murders in New York, where the bodies have been severely mutilated. As the bodies pile up, Dewey is assigned a criminal psychologist named Rebecca Neff (Diane Venora) to assist him with the case. Initially, they suspect militant groups like Gotternammerung are to blame for the murders, but as the investigation progresses, they realize that it is the job of the wolves. But who are these wolves? And why are they killing humans? The movie offers some intriguing answers to these questions.
The opening sequence perfectly sets up the movie, in which a businessman, Christopher Van der Veer (Max Brown), who has purchased most of the land in the South Bronx and has vowed to rebuild the area from the ground up, is murdered in New York’s Battery Park area, along with his wife and chauffeur. The killer’s point of view is shown through thermographic special effects with smooth and fluid camera movements. The scene is masterfully directed and will remind you of Giallo directors like Mario Bava and Dario Argento, known for their inventive killing sequences. Coroner Whittington (Gregory Hines) performs the autopsies and informs Dewey that none of the bodies have any metal residue, implying that no metal object was used in the mutilation. Whittington also discovers small animal follicles in their bodies, prompting him to consult zoologist Ferguson (Tom Noonan), who reveals that these follicles belong to a now-extinct subspecies of wolves. Ferguson also draws a connection between these wolves with Native Americans. There is a brilliant scene where Dewey interrogates a native American named Eddie Holt (Edward James Olmos) on top of the bridge on a cable. The scene becomes so tense that we are afraid Dewey will be thrown off the bridge at any moment. As Dewey learns more about these Native Americans and their relationship with wolves, he attains a better understanding of their mythology and belief system.
The movie has one tension-filled sequence after another. Dewey and Rebecca visit a crime scene of a homeless man in the South Bronx, which resembles a post-war Berlin in 1945, with all the half-destroyed and abandoned buildings. As they enter a dilapidated church, Rebecca begins hearing distant sounds of children crying. She follows the sound and starts climbing the stairs, but Dewey notices the wolves are trying to entice her towards them to kill her. He stops her, and the two flee before the wolves capture them. The portrayal of Dewey and Rebecca’s relationship felt very natural, with a little conflict between them as they instantly get along the moment they meet. Due to this, the screenplay becomes taut because no extra time is spent establishing their relationship. They have a good understanding of each other, and there is also some sexual tension between them. As a result, when they sleep together, we do not see it as a cliched plot point, nor do we see it as a forced plot point in which a romantic angle is thrown in for no apparent reason.
The film delves into the themes of human exploitation of the earth over centuries. Humans saw themselves as hunters, pursuing whatever they desired while destroying everything in their path. But what if other species are challenging humans and not allowing them to get what they want by standing firm and resisting human hostility? This film also reminds us that, aside from humans, other creatures inhabit this world and have the right to live and coexist with us.
The movie’s weak point is the subplot in which the suspects are revealed to be members of militant groups. It fails to explain why the police suspect these groups or what motivates them to carry out these killings. But thankfully, these subplots are not given much attention as the film quickly shifts its focus to exploring more about wolves. I have never been a huge fan of Albert Finney as an actor, and he delivers a mediocre performance here too. He falls flat when the camera closes in on him, which happens at least twice in this movie.
The level of craftsmanship that went into making this movie is commendable. The production design, cinematography, and score all play a significant role in making this movie spooky and atmospheric, which is followed by a good screenplay based on Whitley Strieber’s 1978 novel The Wolfen, which gives the movie a strong and angry theme that is truly relevant and dire in today’s times.
Wolfen movie link: IMDB
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