The Wolfman

Whether The Wolfman is a failed attempt to create a modernized '30s style horror movie or just an all-encompassing act of poor judgement by all involved is a matter not worthy of debate. Whatever side of the argument you may choose, you will agree that this film is a flop of near epic proportions. From Benicio Del Toro's unaffecting, disinterested performance to the jarring and often unnecessary use of sub-par digital effects to the absurd and inconsistent story, this movie is an affront to thinking audiences everywhere. Del Toro plays Larry Talbot, a ham-fisted Shakespearian actor who has been estranged from his aristocratic family since he witnessed the untimely death of his mother as a child. Upon the violent and mysterious death of his younger brother, Talbot returns home to investigate the incident and finds the townsfolk telling tales of a strange beast that has been roaming the woods. In his search for answers, Talbot approaches a band of gypsies and is bitten by a wolf during an attack on the camp. Soon, Larry discovers that he has been cursed with lycanthropy and is destined to transform into a bloodthirsty monster on the evening of the next full moon. While passing references to the classic 1941 film of the same name are occasionally apparent, most of the black and white film's plot has been thrown out the window and replaced by a bunch of incoherent nonsense. The DVD has both unrated and rated versions of the film, though other than a few embarrassingly silly and over the top scenes of gratuitous violence, I'm not sure what about the unrated version would have been too much for the big screen. Special features thankfully include only deleted and extended scenes. This movie was ill conceived and poorly executed. Stay away from it like it was a silver bullet to the brain.