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Wolfman 2010: The Universal Monster Reboot Horror Fans Deserved

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Sometimes, the world doesn’t need a hero, it needs a monster. And in 2010, Universal gave us one, perhaps for the very last time.

As you’ve surely heard by now, Universal has decided to turn all their iconic monsters into superheroes, using the money-making Marvel model as inspiration for an entire universe of reboots that are set to take those characters away from us horror fans – and give them to people with more money than us.

It’s still unclear whether or not Dracula Untold (read our review) is a part of this shared universe, but we do know that Universal is currently prepping action-packed reboots of The Mummy, The Wolf Man and all the rest – and we can be pretty certain that Drac Untold is an indication of what’s to come.

Of course, taking classic monsters and making action stars out of them is nothing new, as films like 1999’s remake of The Mummy and the recent I, Frankenstein did just that. Similarly, Van Helsing was more action than horror, and if you saw the aforementioned Dracula Untold, you know the same can be said for that hunk of junk.

Why the shift from horror to action? Well, that probably has a little something to do with the poor box office performance of Universal’s Wolfman reboot, which came out just four years ago. Made on a budget of $150 million, the film opened in 2nd place but amassed a domestic gross of less than half its budget, which needless to say makes it a flop of fairly epic proportions.

It’s a damn shame, really, because The Wolfman 2010 could’ve – and by all means SHOULD’VE – been the prototype for Universal’s monster reboots, going forward. Love it or hate it, you simply can’t deny that the Joe Johnston-directed film at least got one thing right…

Wolfman Benicio Del Toro

It was a horror movie. It was actually a fucking horror movie.

It’s almost hard to even remember, in the wake of Dracula Untold and the recent reboot news, but there was a time when the Universal Monsters were actually… monsters. There was nothing heroic about the characters and their remarkable powers were curses that doomed them to lives of tragedy, rather than superpowers that helped them save the world.

The Wolfman, perhaps better than any modern day movie that has used those properties as a launching point, hit that particular nail squarely on the head. The tale of a tortured man (a perfectly cast Benicio del Toro) fighting for his life against the beast that resides within him, Wolfman 2010 is a horrifying, tragic and brutal MONSTER MOVIE, embodying the essence of everything that Universal once stood for.

The fact that so many fans of that Universal brand of monster movies failed to appreciate this retelling of the iconic tale is somewhat bewildering, as it very much feels cut from the same cloth as those classic films. Rich with a dread-filled, gothic atmosphere, The Wolfman favors story over action, preserving the general beats of the same-named 1941 film, while throwing some clever curve balls into the mix.

The love story at the heart of the movie, for one, is pretty ingenious, as the character of Gwen Conliffe went from a random love interest (in the original) to the wife of Lawrence Talbot’s deceased brother. And that relationship is wonderfully restrained, as it’s not so much a love affair as it is something much deeper. Lawrence reminds Gwen of her late husband and Gwen reminds Lawrence of both his brother and his deceased mother, and their relationship becomes more about protecting one another than it is about sex or romance. It’s quite beautiful, actually, and executed in a very classy way.

And then there’s Lawrence’s father John Talbot, played by Anthony Hopkins. Unlike the original, Mr. Talbot is a werewolf himself in the 2010 remake, responsible for the murders of both Lawrence’s mother and his brother. The werewolf lineage adds a whole new layer to the tragic tale, and the new story elements all serve to breathe new life into that classic story. A remake done right, is what I call that.

Wolfman 2010 gore

One of the most notable differences between The Wolf Man and The Wolfman is how phenomenally gory the latter is, as no punches are pulled in that department (particularly in the unrated version). There are several scenes where the Wolfman goes through victims like Jason Voorhees, swiping off heads, tearing out throats and ripping out guts. It’s an incredibly brutal film, as any movie bearing the title Wolfman should be.

Not only are the gore effects terrific but so too is the look of the monster, which came courtesy of makeup effects legend Rick Baker. Looking like a much more horrifying version of the original incarnation, the Wolfman in the 2010 reboot is a nice fusion of man and beast, as Baker’s makeup retains the humanity of the character and blurs those lines in the same way the overall movies does. He’s not just a werewolf, he’s a ‘Wolfman,’ and the badass design totally nails that.

As for the transformations, Baker’s effects are joined side-by-side with a whole lot of CGI, which many have criticized the film for. Personally speaking, I think they work pretty damn well together, and the CGI rarely comes across as a problem. Sure, the transformations have got nothing on the work Baker did on An American Werewolf in London, but they’re still pretty damn awesome, effectively conveying the excruciating pain that Talbot goes through in those moments.

The Wolfman 2010

Like all the best remakes, The Wolfman pays loving tribute to the original and brings its own style and substance to the table, managing to genuinely feel like what you’d expect a modern day Universal Monster movie to feel like. And that’s again primarily because it’s a horror movie, at the end of the day. Whereas movies like I, Frankenstein and Dracula Untold barely feel like they belong in the same world as the classics, The Wolfman celebrates that lineage, and is a much better film than the others because of it.

Several years down the road, when Universal’s master plan has been completely revealed, I firmly believe that even the biggest haters of The Wolfman 2010 are going to look back on it and realize just how good us horror fans once had it. I can’t help but wish those same realizations had been made back then, as a better box office performance likely would’ve resulted in it becoming the template for future monster reboots.

And I think you’ll agree with me, whether you’ve yet come to appreciate The Wolfman or not, that you’d much rather Universal continue down its path, than the superhero one. Am I right?

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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