Wolf Man 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man (2025), produced by Blumhouse Productions, is a reimagining of the classic Universal monster movie that seeks to modernize the werewolf mythos while paying homage to its Gothic roots. Known for his work on Upgrade (2018) and The Invisible Man (2020), Whannell has established himself as a filmmaker who can blend visceral horror with thought-provoking themes. With Wolf Man, he attempts to breathe new life into a well-trodden genre, but the results are a mixed bag of exhilarating highs, frustrating missteps, and a plodding pace.

A Modern Take on a Classic Monster

The film follows Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott), an unemployed writer who returns to his hometown in Oregon with his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) after receiving news of his long-missing father’s death. During the trip, they are attacked by a strange beast, and Blake is bitten, leading to his sickness and transformation.

Set in a remote farmhouse, the story nods to classic Universal monster films while exploring contemporary themes of inherited trauma, masculinity, and repressed emotions. Blake’s struggle with his human and monstrous sides is portrayed compellingly by Abbott, showcasing both vulnerability and ferocity.

Visuals

One of the film’s standout features is its use of practical effects to bring the titular creature to life. In an era dominated by CGI, Whannell’s commitment to practical effects is refreshing. The transformation sequences are gruesome and visceral, evoking the body horror of The Fly (1986) while maintaining a distinct identity. The design of the Wolf Man itself is a perfect blend of the classic Lon Chaney Jr. look and a more feral, animalistic interpretation. The creature’s movements, brought to life by a combination of prosthetics and motion capture, are both terrifying and mesmerizing.

The cinematography, handled by Stefan Duscio (who also collaborated with Whannell on The Invisible Man), is another highlight. Duscio’s use of shadow and light creates a palpable sense of unease, while his dynamic camera work during the action sequences adds a kinetic energy to the film. The nighttime scenes, in particular, are a visual feast, with the Wolf Man’s glowing eyes piercing through the darkness like twin beacons of terror.

Narrative and Pacing Issues

Despite some strengths, Wolf Man is not without its flaws. The film’s narrative is thin and wandering. The backstory of Blake and his father is not firmly established, so while the connection to the town and his past is hinted at in an opening flashback sequence, we don’t really get a deeper sense of the lore as things unfold.

The pacing also suffers in the second act, where the film lingers too long on aimless exposition and non-developmental character drama at the expense of momentum. While these quieter moments are intended to deepen the emotional stakes, they often feel repetitive, slowing the film’s overall rhythm. It is the third act that delivers a relentless onslaught of action and body horror that culminates in a thrilling and emotionally resonant finale, but it has come far too late and taken far too long to arrive.

Themes and Social Commentary

Whannell’s Wolf Man aspires to transcend the traditional creature feature genre by exploring the duality of human nature, akin to other films that address lycanthropy. The werewolf curse is utilized as a metaphor for the latent primal instincts within every individual, poised to be unleashed. Blake’s gradual transformation reflects his struggle with internal conflicts, positioning the film as a thoughtful examination of self-acceptance and redemption. However, the screenplay and the excessively slow pacing hinder its effectiveness, resulting in a viewing experience characterized by prolonged sequences of suffering and helplessness experienced by Blake and his family.

Conclusion

Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man is a decent addition to the Blumhouse canon and a commendable attempt to revitalize the werewolf genre, but it stumbles with an aimless narrative and painfully slow pacing. Where the film excels is in its visual storytelling, and commitment to practical effects. Christopher Abbott puts in a powerhouse performance even with the limitations on the material he is given.

Ultimately, Wolf Man is a film that respects its origins while daring to innovate. It may not reach the heights of Whannell’s The Invisible Man, but it solidifies his reputation as a filmmaker who understands how to balance scares with a unique visual aesthetic. For fans of Gothic horror and creature features, Wolf Man may offer a howling good time—flaws and all – but for non-genre fans may not find much to keep them entertained.

The Video

Wolf Man was shot on the Arri Alexa Mini LF with Panavision Ultra Vista lenses in 4.5K resolution. A 4K digital intermediate was used and it is presented on 4K Ultra HD in a 2.39:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) HDR10 encodement. This is a very cinematic looking transfer, even as it is muted most of the film and taking place in darkly lit sets with a chiaroscuro aesthetic. Colors don’t pop but highlights like lamp lights and the glint in eyes have a bit of pop.

The Audio

This is the big one, folks. The lossless Dolby Atmos mix for Wolf Man is reference, period. With lots of height awareness, sounds placed overhead like, for instance, one scene where Blake can hear a spider crawling in the attic. There are many instances of “voice of God” effect, atmospherics through the base channels, and deep low end.

The Supplements

The bonus features feel like an afterthought, but there are some looks at the production behind the film like the prosthetic wolf makeup and more. There is also an audio commentary with the director.

Bonus Features:

• Movies Anywhere Digital Code
• Feature Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Leigh Whannell
• Unleashing a New Monster (1080p; 00:08:07)
• Designing Wolf Man (1080p; 00:08:54)
• Hands-On Horror (1080p; 00:06:51)
• Nightmares and Soundscapes (1080p; 00:06:56)

The Final Assessment

A disappointing reimagining of the Wolf Man legend from Universal that has a lot of strengths but doesn’t have the story behind it to hold it up. Thankfully, the powerful production and acting help to save it so genre fans may still enjoy this one, and the 4K disc is superb.

Wolf Man is out on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital March 18, 2025 from Universal

• Rating Certificate: R (for bloody violent content, grisly images and some language.)
• Studios & Distributors: Universal Pictures | Blumhouse Productions | Cloak & Co. | New Zealand Film Commission | Rialto | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Director: Leigh Whannell
• Written: Leigh Whannell | Corbett Tuck
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: HDR10
• Primary Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible)
• Secondary Audio: French DD 7.1 | Spanish DD 7.1
• Subtitles: English SDH | Spanish | French