Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Wolf Man Blu-ray Movie Review

"Whoever is bitten by a werewolf and lives becomes a werewolf himself."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown September 28, 2012

Take a moment and imagine what modern horror would be without Universal Pictures. Without founder Carl Laemmle and his vision for the future of cinema, or his son Carl Laemmle Jr., who inherited the keys to the studio kingdom in 1928, when talkies were rapidly displacing silent films and promising groundbreaking new strides in moviemaking and the movie-going experience. Without early horror pioneers like Tod Browning, James Whale, Karl Freund, George Waggner or Jack Arnold. Without iconic creature actors Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Claude Rains, Lon Chaney, Jr., Elsa Lanchester or Ben Chapman. Without Dracula, the indispensable 1931 classic that left a more lasting mark on vampire movies and lore than any other vampire film before or after (save Nosferatu). Or Frankenstein, which pushed boundaries, shocked audiences and has been received with overwhelming enthusiasm ever since. The Mummy, bold in its atmosphere and unforgettable in its tragic romance. The Invisible Man, which features some of the most astonishing special effects and perhaps one of the most unnerving depictions of mounting madness of the era. The Bride of Frankenstein, a complex, wickedly funny, altogether unpredictable sequel that in many regards surpasses its predecessor. The Wolf Man, a once-chilling character drama that examines the frailty of man and the beast within. Phantom of the Opera, though more a twisted love story than a traditional horror picture, a film that nevertheless caused some theaters to stock smelling salts in in the event that a moviegoer fainted upon the removal of the Phantom's mask. Or Creature from the Black Lagoon, which frightened audiences above the water and below with a scaly monster unlike any they had seen before. Needless to say, modern horror, and really the genre in whole, would be completely different than what we know.

Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright. The sixth horror classic in the Essentials Collection remains one of the most recognized to this day: director/producer George Waggner's The Wolf Man, starring then-unappreciated talent Lon Chaney, Jr. as Larry Talbot, a man who undergoes startling transformations after being attacked by a werewolf, Claude Rains as his elderly father, Evelyn Ankers as Gwen, the woman who catches his eye but the Wolf Man's appetite, Maria Ouspenskaya as the fortune-teller with a dark secret, and Bela Lugosi as her cursed son. The film is more memorable for Chaney's human performance than his late-in-the-game furry faced antics, rendering The Wolf Man an sometimes uneven curiosity; confident when poor Talbot is feeling anything but, uncertain when the beast is on the prowl. That doesn't mean it detracts from the movie, though, particularly since Waggner and company are far more interested in exploring Talbot's soul-searching and inward turmoil than his turn to the dark side, which doesn't culminate until the last ten minutes of the film. It's ironic that one of Universal's most untamed, vicious beasts has become -- in retrospect, and far removed from the sheer terror I'm sure the creature stirred up in audiences in 1941 -- one of the studio's least scary. Horror lies in the hidden, the unknown, the shadows and, above all, monsters that require more than a swift beating with a silver-tipped cane to go down. Everything the movie relishes in until those closing moments. Blasphemy? No matter. The Wolf Man may be growing long in the tooth, but age can't unseat one of the greats from its throne. I still found it immensely enjoyable, even when I began to realize just how much scarier it would have struck me had I wandered into a theater in the early '40s unaware.

The Wolf Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Wolf Man undergoes what initially appears to be a startling transformation from weathered seventy-year old film elements to painstakingly restored master to terrific 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. And it might look that good -- as good as most of its fellow classic monster movies -- if it weren't for one widespread prevailing issue: ringing. Wire-thin edge halos are apparent throughout the film (some scenes more than others) and become quite a nuisance; so much so that it warrants more than a mention. It warrants a warning. Otherwise, the image has a lot going for it. Grain is gentle and consistent, contrast is impeccably balanced, black levels are satisfying, midrange grays aren't hindered or disrupted in any way, and fine detail reveals subtleties and textures in the original photography the majority of us have never seen before. The encode is also free of macroblocking, banding and other errant anomalies, making for what could have been a prime presentation. But, oh, those halos...

The Wolf Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Universal's two-channel DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track doesn't flounder or fail either. Dialogue is bright, intelligible and rarely hemmed in, effects are supported nicely, screams and cries for help boast a blood-curdling pitch exclusive to the Golden Age of cinema, and howling winds, rustling branches and snarling beasts of the night aren't impeded (other than by the limitations of the era and the resulting audio elements). There is some distortion -- when an attack is backed by music in an already eventful scene, for example -- but again, such shortcomings are a product of the source, and the preservationists working on the project couldn't have done much more without sacrificing the integrity of the film's original sound design. All in all, another able-bodied lossless track from the Classic Monsters collection.

The Wolf Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Monster by Moonlight (SD, 33 minutes): An American Werewolf in London director John Landis hosts this extensive retrospective with an initially cheesy charm that thankfully doesn't interfere with the proceedings. The history, development, production and sequels of The Wolf Man are examined at length, both the movies that inspired it and its impact on horror cinema are detailed, and every fan, no matter how well versed in Wolf Man lore and legend, will come away having learned something about the film that will enrich their next viewing.
• Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr. (SD, 37 minutes): The life and career of Wolf Man actor Lon Chaney, Jr., the son of a silent film star who went on to play multiple beasts in the Universal monster pantheon. This is a fascinating documentary, though, more so than the usual bio piece. Tragedy, obstacles, tribulation and bittersweet success dot his days as a child, teen and, eventually, a struggling actor. How has his story not been adapted for the big screen?
• He Who Made Monsters: The Art and Life of Jack Pierce (SD, 25 minutes): Oft-overlooked makeup master Jack Pierce was responsible for creating the look of Universal's early lineup of monsters; characters whose appearances would go on to become as iconic as the films in which they were featured.
• Audio Commentary: Film historian Tom Weaver departs part from the commentary pack, relying on notes but not always reading them outloud. It allows a bit of humor and personal asides to creep in, as well as Weaver's enthusiasm for the film and era, and that makes all the difference. The film is still given the historian's full attention and the particulars of its production and behind-the-scenes drama are still brought to light, but his is a breezier, more entertaining commentary than many of the tracks in the Universal Classic Monsters set.
• From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth (SD, 10 minutes): Breaking down The Wolf Man and its appeal.
• 100 Years of Universal: The Lot (HD, 9 minutes): The Universal backlot in all its glory.
• The Wolf Man Archives (SD, 7 minutes): Movie posters, campaign art, production stills and other images.
• Trailer Gallery (SD, 9 minutes): Werewolf of London, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula and She-Wolf of London.

The Wolf Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Wolf Man represents another leap forward in the evolution of the classic Universal horror canon. It isn't as essential as some of the studio's earlier efforts, as ahead of its time as The Bride of Frankenstein, or as strong when it comes to the creature makeup and effects (The Mummy and The Invisible Man being the respective highlights in the collection). But as one of Universal's Big Three Horror Icons -- the other two being Dracula and Frankenstein -- it still delivers, thanks especially to Lon Chaney, Jr.'s performance. The Blu-ray edition delivers too, with a commendable restoration and video transfer, a capable DTS-HD Master Audio Mono mix and a solid selection of special features (even if one documentary is a carryover from The Mummy disc). The Essentials Collection is worth the price of admission from almost every angle, but if you choose to wait for individual releases, you won't have to worry when it comes to The Wolf Man.