Hutchinson - The Hairy Beast

The advancements of digital technology have brought the visual ferocity and intimidation of movie monsters to life for modern moviegoers. Now, monsters are truly the stuff of nightmares. When the audience is first introduced to the werewolf in the 1940's version of "Wolfman," all that is clearly discernible is a dog-like animal, possibly a common wolf. While possibly a normal worry for someone camping in the woods, a dog-like wolf is hardly something that you fear will go "bump" in the night. Comparatively, the first time the "wolfman" is introduced in the 2010 remake, all you can see is a quick moving, vicious, snarling animal -- just enough left to the imagination to instill instant terror. When the wolfman actually transforms in the 1940's edition, the scenes seem to kind of pulsate as the change occurs, making it appear choppy and clearly fake. In the 2010 edition, thanks to digital mastering and special effects, the audience can actually watch the change perform, which brings a more life-like reality to it. Today, it is just easier to be frightened by monsters in the movies. They are so much more real. They no longer look like actors in make up; they look like honest to God creatures of nightmare, of myth and legend. There was a point in the 1940's version when the wolfman got caught in a bear trap. As the camera zoomed in, you could see the wolfman whimpering, a very human emotion. Today's movie monsters would not let a little trap on their foot hurt them, they'd pull it off and keep going. Digital media has made monsters much more monstrous, the way they're supposed to be. Monsters don't whimper and cry; they scream, howl, and roar as they rip apart people and buildings. They aren't really the joke they seemed back then.