Wolf Man

It’s not quite a howler, but the latest reimagining of Wolf Man is too eager to break free from the cheesiness of its concept.

This brooding horror exercise from director Leigh Whannell (The Invisible Man) doesn’t explore the classic monster-movie mythology in any meaningful new ways as it unspools a dark story of inner turmoil and family secrets.

Along the way, contrivances and cliches undermine the potency of the frights both before and after the obligatory metamorphosis, preventing a deeper and more sustained sense of psychological terror.

The story follows Blake (Christopher Abbott), a writer living in Los Angeles with his journalist wife (Julia Garner) and preteen daughter (Matilda Firth). He’s still haunted by a childhood episode when his father mysteriously disappeared during a hunting trip amid rumors about a half-man, half-wolf stalking the woods of central Oregon.

Thirty years later, his father is legally declared dead. From the moment Blake suggests it’s a good idea for the family to spend the summer together at the family farm, you know the reality is just the opposite.

Perhaps Blake should just listen to his own pearls of wisdom: “Sometimes you’re so afraid of your kids getting scars that you become the thing that scars them,” he reasons.

What’s supposed to be a get away to heal some wounds quickly becomes a nightmare. Blake gets lost while driving the rental truck, and once they finally reach the farmhouse, a savage creature appears to be stalking them. Then he becomes afflicted with an ailment that ravages his flesh and his mind.

The film is stylish and evocative, effectively leveraging audiovisual cues within its natural surroundings to maximize the sense of trepidation and paranoia.

However, the screenplay is driven by coincidences and a lack of common sense. It always helps when the characters make their worst decisions when it’s dark, they’re lost, and there’s no phone service.

As a showcase for some impressive makeup and creature effects, the titular monster becomes the most compelling character in the movie by default.

Such missteps wouldn’t be as glaring if the film didn’t take its visceral approach so seriously. While bloodthirsty genre aficionados might appreciate the abundant third-act gore, the lack of subtlety and surprise renders Wolf Man rather toothless.

Rated R, 103 minutes.