Alice Oscura, Featured Writer
Disclaimer: The following contains spoilers and details sourced from online articles and interviews with the cast, and crew of the film.
I haven’t seen Wolf (1994) in quite some time because let’s face it…life, am I right? If you know, you know. However, when I noticed that one of my favourite films turned 30 years old, I decided that it was time to give it a rewatch with a fresh new perspective. With that being said, let’s explore what makes it one of the more iconic, groundbreaking werewolf-themed films and why casting American actor Jack Nicholson in the leading role was a smart choice. The film was directed by Mike Nichols (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate) and written by Jim Harrison (author of Legends of the Fall book trilogy) and Wesley Strick (screenwriter for Martin Scorsese’s remake of Cape Fear).
Wolf follows the story of an editor-in-chief of a prestigious New-York based publishing house named Will Randall, played by Nicholson. Randall is a man clearly on the verge of a midlife crisis, as he lacks motivation and the vigour he might have once had in his youth. His marriage to his wife Charlotte (Kate Nelligan) also looks particularly lukewarm at this point. However, things take a nosedive for Will once he finds out that a millionaire named Raymond Alden (Christopher Plummer) is taking over the publishing house. At a dinner party thrown by Alden, Alden pulls Will aside and informs him of not only his demotion but also that his once trusted protégé, Stewart Swinton (James Spader), has been gunning for the editor-in-chief position all this time.
After Randall is bitten by a large black wolf, the attack becomes the catalyst for not only Will’s physical transformation but forces him into a personal transition as well. There’s a representation of the existence of toxic masculinity in the workplace by including the primal behaviour of the male testosterone in a cutthroat environment. As Will begins to notice his rejuvenation and enhanced senses with the rise of the werewolf, he becomes increasingly smart and aggressive. He manages to turn the tables on his backstabbing protégé by cooking up a successful, fiendish plan to regain his job at the publishing house, demonstrating that it really is a dog-eat-dog world out there.
I honestly don’t think that this film would have such a cult following if it wasn’t for Nicholson’s acting chops. This is a definitive instance where age over beauty works for the better. Furthermore, Nicholson was not an actor that you would have associated with being sexually appealing in the nineties. Yet surprisingly, his chemistry with co-star Michelle Pfeiffer (who plays Alden’s daughter Laura) is incredibly off the charts despite their 21-year age gap. Why, may you ask? Simply because Will Randall is a good guy who has realised that he is slowly turning into an apex predator just when he finally finds true love. Which brings me to an especially crucial point. The essence of the Wolf Man stories and films has always been about sacrifice for the sake of true love. That prime element remains unchanged as the plot of Wolf shifts its primary focus to Will and Laura’s budding romance.
The special effects are definitely a relic of the 90s, but it’s not to say that it doesn’t hold up well by modern-day standards. Both actors Nicholson and Spader successfully capture the predatory instinct of the wolf to varying degrees. The humanoid wolf-like appearance is reminiscent of the classic Wolf Man films. There’s a message within the film’s plot that does its best to evoke the age-old myth of the subject, who is the possessor of said supernatural abilities, being inherently evil and will then literally become a monster inside and outside. Pfeiffer as Laura Alden is not your typical damsel in distress. She’s tough and independent despite coming from money and is neither fragile nor easily intimidated. The character gets her moment to shine coming into the final act when she thinks that there’s a strong possibility that Will has killed his wife in one of his wolfy blackouts., Charlotte. Instead of cringing away from the situation in fear, her love for Will urges her to take command of the situation and orchestrate the best escape plan that she can before the police get to Will. Changing the narrative of the leading female role was definitely a positive step in the right direction.
I’ve always felt a bit torn on my feelings towards the way that they concluded the film. There are aspects of it that I both adored and disliked at the same time. For instance, while I liked the fact that it hints at Laura not coming away unscathed from Swinton’s attack (and no wonder from the way that man was literally pawing at that poor woman and flinging her around the place like some rag doll), but I really disliked the fact that they rushed her transition in order to demonstrate that point. It took days for Will and Stewart to make the transition, now here comes Laura who was just bitten and instantaneously….bam, she’s a werewolf! I would have appreciated it if they just showed the audience that she was hiding the bite. The audience isn’t stupid; they would understand obviously what comes next. I did find the cinematography where it focuses on her eyes shifting as she herself transforms beautifully romantic. So, you can see what I mean by being conflicted about the ending.
In conclusion, Wolf is a highly underrated film and consider it to be one of the most resonating werewolf-themed films within the past few decades.
Dark Alice’s Score: 7.5 out of 10
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Dark Alice has an old soul and a curious mind. I believe that anyone can be a hero and that the good guys should always win! I dislike cruelty to animals and think that they have far superior qualities to humans. My motto is there is no future without the past. I also have a weird penchant for Paranormal TV shows even though the slightest sound makes me jump. I enjoy writing reviews and throwing in fun facts to pique the readers’ curiosity. My ultimate goal in life would be to become a published writer one day. Read More