LEIGH WHANNELL’S WOLF MAN NOW AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL, 4K UHD, BLU-RAY, AND DVD 

Y’all know I’m a physical media girlie, so when I saw WOLF MAN was coming out on 4K, I was pretty stoked. The better to see all of the incredible practical F/X in the latest film by Leigh Whannell, whose 2020 feature, THE INVISIBLE MAN, is one of my favorite films of all time. 

WOLF MAN presents a grisly, body horror centered version of the classic werewolf myth, in which Blake (Christopher Abbot), brings his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner), and daughter Ginger to his childhood home in rural Oregon. After swerving to avoid someTHING in the road and crashing their truck, the family finds themselves being stalked by a large, fast-moving animal. Once barricaded safely inside the home, they realize Blake has been injured by the creature and is becoming sicker and sicker. 

While WOLF MAN doesn’t dive quite as deep into its themes as THE INVISIBLE MAN did, there’s still an interesting connection to generational abuse and trauma within the story. But it’s truly the look and feel here that made it so very entertaining to me. 

There was so much about the atmosphere of this film that I really, really dug; deep forested shots, hot breath rising above a door, the stillness and tension of waiting for something to happen – and the chaos and loudness when it does. The actors (of course) were all amazing, and I was a fan of the werewolf “curse” being less mystical and more like a virus or infection. And man did I LOVE seeing all the practical F/X. There is just something so cool about practical makeup that can never be duplicated by computers. 

While overall I don’t feel that this is as solid as THE INVISIBLE MAN, I still think it’s a pretty great horror film. 

Back to my physical media push! The 4K disc looks so very, very nice – and in addition to feature commentary with director/co-writer Leigh Whannell, there are lots of killer bonus features on this edition – I was especially impressed with the effects breakdowns. 

UNLEASHING A NEW MONSTER – Explore Leigh Whannell’s dark and gritty take on one of horror’s most iconic monsters. Learn what inspired the visionary director to create this tragic tale of family, loss, and a night of absolute terror.

DESIGNING WOLF MAN – Director Leigh Whannell and prosthetic designer Arjen Tuiten, set out to create a Wolf Man unlike any seen before. Take a closer look at the conceptual designs, sculptures and prosthetic make-up that aided in the creation of a monster that stays with you long after the credits roll.

HANDS ON HORROR – Strap in for a breakdown of the film’s most thrilling action sequences. Cast and crew discuss how practical effects enabled them to capture raw and realistic performances of the most terrifying, heart-pounding scenes in the film.

NIGHTMARES AND SOUNDSCAPES – Transition into Blake’s perspective and witness the world through the eyes of an animal. Learn how sound design and VFX came together to highlight the enhanced hearing, vision, and complete abandonment of humanity that materialized during the transformation from Man to Wolf.