Nolley, Wolfman Comparison

The Wolfman: 2010
The Wolfman: 1941

The 1941 Wolfman has some elements that the new 2010 version left behind. In the 1941 version the Lon Chaney is seen changing into the wolfman. This change is documented by his feet growing extremely hairy. It can definitely be said that the transformation into the wolfman is most definitely toned down in the 1941 version. This may take away from the overall scariness of the transformation, but it keeps the idea that there is still a man under that fur because his body has not been severely contorted. In the 2010 remake, Benicio Del Toro is extremely frightening when he transforms because of the dramatic changes his body goes through. It was almost too much, the way his fingers bent and how his jaw practically came off of his face. One thing that is worth admiring about the remake is that after he transforms and when the viewer finally sees him in all his glory he is not computer generated. This is reminiscent of classic horror movies where you can tell there’s a person in there. It also helps reinforce that Lawrence Talbot is a wolfman, not just a wolf creature with no obvious human characteristics. While the remake of The Wolfman is indeed more frightening than the original, that does not make it better. The computer generated effects of the remake take away from the genuineness of the film because the audience becomes distracted by what’s fake and what’s real and can lose track of the story itself. The 1941 Wolfman has an originality that the remake could never compare to.