Alright, so let me tell you, when I heard Leigh Whannell was tackling Wolf Man after absolutely nailing The Invisible Man a few years back, I was all in. I mean, the guy knows how to take old-school monsters and make them feel terrifyingly real again. But walking out of the theater after watching Wolf Man (2025), I couldn’t help but think, “Wait, that’s it?” It’s not like the movie wasn’t good—it had its moments but this review of Wolf Man has to say it left me wanting more. Like, there were so many ideas that felt half-baked or rushed.
The thing is, Whannell does try something bold here. Instead of focusing just on the blood and terror (which, don’t worry, there’s still some of that), he dives into the emotional weight of family drama. You’ve got a father dealing with trauma, a rocky marriage, and the horrors of parenthood—all wrapped up in this creepy, atmospheric setting in rural Oregon.
It’s got a lot of heart, but somewhere along the way, it feels like the movie forgets it’s supposed to scare the hell out of you too. Stick around for this review of Wolf Man to find out if it’s worth your time!
The Story: Great Setup, But Missed Opportunities

Wolf Man follows Blake (Christopher Abbott), his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner), and their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) as they head to Blake’s old family home in the Oregon woods. It’s supposed to be a quiet trip, but surprise—Blake starts turning into a werewolf. The setup is great—family drama meets horror—but some parts feel rushed.
His still-exceptional second Universe Monsters movie proves the franchise remains in good hands.
Casey Chong, Casey’s Movie Mania
You might be wishing that Wolf Man had more bite, but it will leave you wanting Leigh Whannell to bring another Universal Monster to life.
Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
Blake and Charlotte’s marriage issues? Barely explained. You’re just supposed to guess why they’re mad at each other. And there’s this backstory with Blake’s dad and another hunter, but it’s so skimmed over it feels pointless. They could’ve done so much more with it. Honestly, I kept wishing for more depth.
Review of Wolf Man (2025) – What Hit the Mark?

Let’s give credit where it’s due. The technical execution in Wolf Man (2025) is top-notch. The makeup and CGI work for the werewolf transformation? Chef’s kiss. You can feel the pain and terror in those moments. It’s gross, it’s creepy—it’s everything you want from a werewolf movie.
What should be applauded is the excellent use of visual storytelling to put the audience in Blake’s perspective as he transforms.
Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
The performances were solid, too. Christopher Abbott brings a lot of depth to Blake. You can tell he’s struggling, not just with turning into a wolf but also with keeping his family together. Julia Garner is fantastic as Charlotte, the overworked wife who’s trying to hold it all together while protecting her kid. Matilda Firth, as their daughter Ginger, adds some emotional weight to the story, especially during the scarier scenes.
Christopher Abbott is fantastic under that makeup… [His] performance is a standout that carries the film even when it lulls.
Kate Sánchez, But Why Tho? A Geek Community
The Scares: Effective but Not Overwhelming

If you’re here for jump scares, you’ll get a few, but Wolf Man isn’t trying to rely on cheap tricks. Instead, it goes for atmosphere and tension. The Oregon forest setting is creepy as hell, and the sound design is next-level. You can feel every growl, every crack of bones during Blake’s transformation—it’s so intense. Leigh Whannell knows how to use sound to make you squirm in your seat.
But—and this is a big “but”—I wish the movie had gone further with the horror. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, but I kept waiting for that one moment that would really blow my mind, and it never came.
The Missed Opportunities in the Wolf Man (2025): A Closer Look
Here’s where Wolf Man drops the ball for me. There are so many interesting ideas—Blake’s relationship with his dad, the struggles of parenting, the toll of grief—but they’re not fully explored. I kept thinking, “This would’ve been amazing as a limited series” With more time, they could’ve fleshed out the characters and really made those emotional beats hit hard.
Julia Garner is a brilliant performer but either her character was never fleshed out or most of the flesh was dropped on the cutting room floor.
William Bibbiani, The Wrap
Also, there are some plot holes that bugged me. Like, why didn’t Blake remember what happened when he was younger? And what’s the deal with Dan and his son? It’s like the movie sets up these threads but forgets to tie them together.
The main problem is a script that can’t make sense of what Charlotte’s thinking or feeling from scene to scene. Garner largely plays the role in a daze.
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
Review of Wolf Man (2025) – What Critics Are Saying?
Let’s dive into the review of Wolf Man and find out what critics are saying about Leigh Whannell’s reimagining of the classic werewolf tale.
1. How Does Wolf Man Compare to The Invisible Man?

The comparison to The Invisible Man is inevitable, but critics have varying opinions on whether Wolf Man can measure up to its predecessor. Some see it as a strong continuation of Whannell’s successful style, while others feel it falls short.
Wolf Man is on par with The Invisible Man, though it might be far more divisive.
Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
Just like in The Invisible Man, the director understands the deeper, almost primeval appeal that makes this such a timeless fable in the first place.
Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
So it’s not an instant classic like The Invisible Man. I think we can all live with that.
William Bibbiani, The Wrap
2. Will Fans of Blumhouse Movies Enjoy It?
Fans of Blumhouse are likely to find Wolf Man gripping, though opinions are split on whether it will stand out in the Blumhouse lineup.
Wolf Man is the best Blumhouse movie in years.
Jonathan Sim, ComingSoon.net
It’s gripping enough — a mid- rather than top-tier Blumhouse entry.
David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter
The basic premise of the family unit being targeted feels repetitive and derivative of other Blumhouse movies.
Emma Kiely, Collider
3. Does Wolf Man Do Anything New with the Werewolf Genre?

Whannell’s take on the Wolf Man brings a fresh perspective to the werewolf mythos, reimagining lycanthropy in a way that some critics find compelling.
Whannell manages to course-correct the Wolf Man story by approaching his movie in a more primal and straightforward manner.
Casey Chong, Casey’s Movie Mania
Most interestingly, Whannell reimagines lycanthropy from a curse to a disease… This fresh take on werewolf lore is one strength of Whannell’s version of The Wolf Man.
Katie Rife, IGN Movies
One gets the distinct impression that Whannell’s interpretation of a “wolf man” may not demonize wolves as much as the earlier renditions.
William Bibbiani, The Wrap
4. How Are the Special Effects?

The film’s special effects, particularly its use of prosthetics over CGI, have drawn mixed reactions. Many praising the practical effects, though a few feel it could have been more terrifying.
It’s done imaginatively with prosthetics and make-up – absolutely the right choice, in breaking away from Marvel-style CGI overkill.
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
It helps that the emphasis is on practical effects, not CG.
David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter
The makeup they settled on struggles to terrify. It’s not even consistently convincing.
William Bibbiani, The Wrap
It’s done imaginatively with prosthetics and make-up – absolutely the right choice, in breaking away from Marvel-style CGI overkill, and a nice way of honoring every landmark film in this subgenre over the years.
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
5. Is It Scary?

The film’s scares are effective, but not every critic is convinced. It reaches the same level of fear that made the first season of the Wolf Man concept so iconic.
There are a handful of effective jump scares and no shortage of nausea-inducing body horror to keep us on our toes.
Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
The sheer amount of tension and unease that permeates the film more than makes up for the lack of many outright jump scares.
Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior
It’s not particularly scary. It does boast some gory sequences and a transformation that has wince-inducing beats involving fingernails and teeth, but you won’t be terrified.
Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
Audience Review of Wolf Man (2025): What Are Fans Saying?

Fans of horror and the Universal Monsters seem to be enjoying it more than the critics. People love the fresh take on the werewolf lore and Christopher Abbott’s performance. Here is what they are saying;
10/10
Solid Flick…if you like Horror movies.
This is a solid film, if you like Horror movies. If you don’t then please stop watching my horror movies and watering down the rating with your skewed opinion.
This movie is well-executed and perfectly paced. Some say it’s slow but it’s really not (I think people wanted immediate kills and explosions). Audiences have short attention spans and often incapable of enjoying a slow, tense buildup. Some people complain the movie is “too safe” ’cause there was no impending doom for all the characters; this is a result from shows like GOT and Walking Dead where part of the appeal is that ANYONE CAN DIE! Somehow people think that makes for good tv/film. So simplistic.
This movie is beautifully filmed and the single setting only adds to the atmosphere. I already can’t wait until this streams so I can watch it again!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8/10
Effective, well made and scary
I loved it. It’s basically old school horror: the werewolf concept, the desolate cottage, the dark woods, it’s all there, as well as the needed jump scares and some serious violence and gore. The special effects are very convincing, and the appearance of the creature is pretty original, compared to the cliché werewolves: in spite of the transformation he still stays clearly a person. The photography (entirely in the dark of night) is great, and there’s a very effective build-up of the tension.
The makers added to all the excitement and turmoil a fair amount of quiet moments, serving as reflection for the besieged family members, as well as for mounting the suspense. Both Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott do a fine job, as does young Matilda Firth as the daughter. In short: an entertaining and exciting addition to the horror-wolf genre.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

6/10
Not bad, but lacking in many areas.
Let me start by saying that Christopher Abbott’s performance was splendid. He stepped into this role with ease, and I would recommend this film based solely on his interpretation of the titular character.
That said, there were many things in this film that failed to work for me. Addressing Julia Garner’s performance, I must say I think she is a lovely actress. In fact, she tends to steal any scenes she’s in when it comes to most of her other work that I’ve seen. In Wolf Man, however, she is less than believable in the role of wife and mother, and, along with a lack of depth in the script, I found myself less than concerned about the fate of the family.
I was especially excited to see this movie after hearing it was being written/directed by Leigh Whannell, whose work on The Invisible Man was impeccable. Wolf Man fails where The Invisible Man succeeds in the way of character development and raw emotion. When it comes to the world of fantastical creatures like vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc., I think there should be a clear direction chosen between campy/outrageous and dark/serious when telling such stories. While Whannell seems to have chosen the latter, I felt the film was too tame to affect an audience and too surface-level to reach the heart.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/10
This is the surprise of the year for me. I wasn’t expecting anything because no ‘Wolves’ movie has innovated anything in recent years. I think this is the first time we actually see the process of becoming a werewolf clearly. Like rabies. Like a disease. Suddenly we see how the patient feels and how he slowly loses his grip on reality. Simply excellent. How can we not appreciate originality? This is exactly what I expect from a director who wants to do something different yet good and interesting. Definitely earned the score i gave it. Definitely will want to see this director doing other stuff.

6/10
This film is just alright, maybe a little better than that. But it’s nothing to write home about: close, but no cigar.
It plays it too safe. Just when you think something interesting is going to transpire, it doesn’t. The film is an adaptation of a decades-old story, and yet it doesn’t break any new ground nor offer up any new ideas.
The cinematography and acting are the two standouts. The presentation of the Oregonian outdoors is beautiful, as is the use of lighting throughout. Abbott and Garner turn in great performances, but the actress playing their daughter is not very good to the point that she often took me out of the film. The film felt like it was leading up to something really climactic, but didn’t really. Ultimately it ends up feeling rather generic. There are a few jump scares and creepy imagery, but overall it isn’t all that scary.
That said, the film is worth checking out if you’re looking for an entertaining, spooky little time. The runtime is short, and it clips along pretty nicely.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6/10
18 January 2025
“Wolf Man” delivers an engaging and tragic story that leans into human emotion over traditional horror. The father-daughter dynamic stands out, with Christopher Abbott giving a strong performance, while Julia Garner is promising but not yet a standout draw. The film avoids overused jump-scare tactics, opting for quiet, anxiety-filled tension that complements its immersive visuals and effective use of practical effects. While the dialogue is functional and fitting, it doesn’t leave a lasting impression, and the pacing is very managed. Overall, “Wolf Man” provides a fresh perspective on the werewolf sub-genre, focusing on transformation and its impact on family, even if it’s not destined for long-term recognition.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10
18 January 2025
Set in modern day 2025 WOLFMAN is the best take/adaptation of the movie and or creature itself. Better than any other wolfman movie I’ve seen. The last decade of horror movies has been absolutely horrendous they don’t make movies like Jeepers Creepers, Insidious, Grudge, Blair witch project. Movies that keep you in the movie the whole time and don’t spoil too much too soon into the movie. When I say that this is okay movie I’ve dared to see in the theater the past 3 years because of the silly prices and lackluster of exciting titles, but when I say this movie is excellent in every way I mean it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FAQs
It’s moderately scary, with effective jump scares, intense body horror, and wince-inducing transformation sequences.
Critics are mixed, but many praise its practical effects, emotional depth, and fresh take on werewolf lore.
Ryan Gosling left due to scheduling conflicts, paving the way for Christopher Abbott to take the lead.
Yes, it’s a horror movie blending body horror, psychological tension, and classic werewolf mythos.
Final Thoughts
So, according to the review ofWolf Man (2025), is it worth your time? I’d say yes—but with a few caveats. If you’re a fan of Leigh Whannell’s work or you love the Universal Monsters, you’ll probably enjoy this fresh take. The performances, especially from Christopher Abbott and Matilda Firth, are strong, and the sound design alone is worth experiencing in a theater.
But if you’re looking for a deeply emotional story or a flawless plot, you might leave feeling a bit underwhelmed. This is a solid horror flick, but it’s not without its flaws.
Still, I’d recommend giving it a shot. Even with its shortcomings, Wolf Man is a step in the right direction for Universal’s monster universe. And who knows? Maybe we’ll get a sequel—or even better, a limited series—that gives us the depth this story deserves.
If you missed watching into cinema, it will soon release on Peacock TV. So stay tuned!