The BG News

The original "Wolfman" is thought of as a horror film masterpiece. Throwing Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro into lead roles almost ensures at least  a decent film. But sadly, the latest whack at recreating the 1941 classic fell very, very short of acclaim.

Lawrence Talbot, played by Del Toro, has returned home to his family estate after learning his brother has mysteriously died. Upon arriving, Talbot sees  his brother has been mangled by something seemingly not human, casting a shadow on the town.

Talbot promises his brother's fiancee, played by Emily Blunt, that he will get to the bottom of the murder. This sends Talbot down a path toward his eventual doom, as half man, half beast and crossing the treacherous paths of his father and Scotland Yard.

"Wolfman" plods along at a terribly slow pace throughout, dragging out a worthless plot while the audience just waits to see some of the fairly cool transformation scenes. Hopkins and Del Toro are virtually wasted in this recreation of a horror classic, and Blunt's role is basically useless besides a romantic-interest angle. The mere thought the latest "Wolfman" could actually invoke fright is laughable. Almost every attempt at bringing an edge-of-your-seat reaction was pale and flaccid, and the "twist" ending was so obvious, you don't need the vision of a wolf to see it coming.

The one saving grace of this cinematic mistake was the make-up and "Wolfman" transformation effects were quite good, giving "Wolfman" an intense feel, if only for 20 seconds.

If you're going to the theater for a good scare or some horrific action, pass up "The Wolfman." Even at small prices, your money is better spent someplace else.