Leigh Whannell’s highly anticipated Wolf Man reboot just got a brand new trailer, and it may be the most savage and unsettling look at the classic Universal Monster yet. Universal Pictures UK released this latest trailer on Wednesday, packed with chilling new footage not featured in the film’s previous US trailers, emphasizing the intense body horror and transformation at the heart of the story.
The New Take On An Old Legend
In this modern reimagining, Christopher Abbott stars as Blake, a San Francisco husband and father who inherits his remote childhood home in rural Oregon after his own father mysteriously vanishes. With his marriage to his high-powered wife Charlotte (played by Julia Garner) in disarray, Blake persuades her to accompany their young daughter Ginger (newcomer Matilda Firth) on a trip to the family property.
However, an unseen animal viciously attacks the family as they approach the old farmhouse in the dead of night. Forced to barricade themselves inside, the night takes a terrifying turn as Blake begins to undergo a horrific transformation, much to the horror of his trapped family.
“What if someone you loved became something else?” the trailer ominously asks. It’s a chilling premise that leans hard into the monstrous body horror at the heart of the classic Wolf Man myth.
Whannell’s Modern Spin
Director Leigh Whannell, the filmmaker behind the acclaimed 2020 reboot of The Invisible Man, is putting his own unique spin on the Wolf Man story. And if this latest trailer is any indication, his version is going to be a relentlessly intense, unsettling thrill ride. Abbott shared in a previous interview, “I think he did a great take on his version of what that story could be.”
“If you enjoyed Invisible Man, you will undoubtedly enjoy this as well.” Whannell has assured that the Wolf Man at Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights this year will be significantly different from the one he dismissed as merely a “costume at Spirit Halloween.”
Instead, the director has tapped acclaimed special effects artist Arjen Tuiten to bring the iconic monster to life with a level of gritty, visceral realism. “There’s a level of lighting and artistry,” Whannell teased. “I can confidently tell you that the Halloween Horror Nights Wolf Man they had running around is not much like what we have going.”
Part Of The New Universal Monsters Universe
Wolf Man is the latest entry in Universal’s ongoing efforts to revive their classic monster properties for modern audiences. Following the success of The Invisible Man, this new take on the Wolf Man legend is part of an ambitious shared universe of standalone monster films produced by Blumhouse.
“It’s like comparing a costume at Spirit Halloween to Rick Baker’s makeup, without spoiling anything,” Whannell said, referring to the legendary special effects artist responsible for groundbreaking creature designs.
On January 17, 2025, Wolf Man will swoop into theaters. With its savage new trailer offering the most vicious look at the film yet, anticipation is certainly building for Whannell’s fresh spin on this classic horror icon.
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