Seither The Wolfman Changes

Though both the 1941 version of The Wolfman, directed by George Waggner, and the 2010 version of The Wolfman, directed by Joe Johnston, both carry the same title and have a few similarities in plot, the two films are drastically different in almost every way. Differences in the plot of the two films are probably the most obvious difference to the casual viewer, but it is the difference in cinematographic techniques which stand out to the discerning viewer. In the original version the directors were definitely limited by the technology that was available to them in depicting Larry Talbot's (Lon Chaney Jr.) transformation into the wolfman. First, the transformation starts off as an increase of hair on Larry's legs, and then the director begins to splice in frames which depict increasingly wolf-like legs and feet. For the period during which this movie was filmed, there is no doubt that this was the pinnacle of technology, but by modern standards it is simple and unimpressive. In the 2010 version of the film, the director had much more advanced techniques to make the transformation into the wolfman seem much more horrifying and realistic; however, the CGI (computer generated imagery) used in the modern version does seem fake in its own unique way. Another interesting difference between the two film's representations of the transformation into the wolfman is that the 1941 version's is much less violent than the 2010 version is. In the 1941 film the Talbot simply sits in a chair watching as his legs become hairier and his feet become a wolf's paws. Contrastigly, in Johnston's The Wolfman Talbot writhes and screams as he changes into the wolfman. Because of this difference, the modern The Wolfman seems more a action/horror film than does the more psychologically thrilling 1941 version.

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Coulter-Wolfman '10

The 2010 version of "The Wolfman" placed stock in the advanced abilities of new wave CGI effects to make the transformation from man to beast into a believable event. While the CGI effects were in fact great, as displayed in slow-motion in the video below, they were not enough to carry the movie from the depths of boring humor that pervaded this train wreck of a film. The plot of the film takes place majoritivty in the Blackmoor Woods which is of course full of fog at all times. The film tried to use this blanket of mystery to heighten suspense, but instead due to poor high lighting just made it very hard to see what was happening. The scene I selected (Top) was one of the few well done moments of the whole film the light from the full moon illuminating a fully wolfed out Benicio del Toro, howling over a 19th century London as the "beast had his day." This scene's dominate figure is the wolfman, with a secondary dominance on the moon and it high key light shining down. The scene is loosely framed with the Wolfman's back to the camera at a three-quarter turn, with a slight up angle showing the figures dominance over the city perhaps and maintaining his separation from the audience by being turned away at the same time. But even in the well detailed CGI London being looked down upon the fog remains giving the scene a morose feeling. Overall this film made me laugh more than it scared me, but I did dig the bone twisting effects.