Wolf Man’s first reactions are now making their way onto social media, and viewers are praising the new monster movie reboot. Directed by Leigh Whannell, the upcoming fresh take on the classic Universal monster sees Christopher Abbott in the lead role as Blake, a father who begins a terrifying transformation while at a remote cabin with his family, played by Julia Garner and Matilda Firth. TheWolf Mantrailershave been careful not to reveal too much about Whannell’s take on the iconic monster design, but the film has now screened, finally unveiling the director’s chilling vision.
Ahead ofWolf Man’s wide theatrical release on January 17, viewers who saw the movie early are now sharing positive reactions on social media. The reactions praise the tense atmosphere and surprising scares, but also claim thatthere’s a strong emotional story beneath all this terror. Abbott’s performance, too, is singled out as a highlight. Check out select reactions below:
“Leigh Whannell’s WOLF MAN is a pulse-poundig, super fun take on classic werewolf cinema,” writesAndrew J. Salazar. “Less is more in this effective tale of generational guilt. The ‘infected’ Wolf Man design also works far better on-screen.”
Tessa Smithwrites that “Wolf Man is not just terrifying, it packs an emotional punch. I found myself jumping out of my skin and then shedding tears. The acting is top notch and the cinematography is insane. The way the camera switches POVs provides a masterclass in horror. I loved it!”
Continuing the positive sentiment are the comments fromThat Hashtag Show, which calls the movie “some of the most excellent horror in recent memory. A slow transformation will sicken you, but it tells a story that packs a familial punch. A great cast highlight an utterly terrifying film.”
“[Wolf Man] will leave you afraid of the dark!” writesRachel Leishman. “Watched this movie with my feet up on [sic] the air because I was terrified of what could grab my ankles. Just a suspenseful thrill from start to finish. Christopher Abbott is a star and I love him so much!”
Nick L’BarrowcallsWolf Man"a tense, straight-forward thriller that sees Christopher Abbott unleash the battle between human and animal through his strong performance!Julia Garner is the hart and humanity of the drama. Leigh Whannell’s insane visual and auditory creativity is amazing!"
"Wolf Man is everything that I wanted and then some," writesHunter Bolding. He calls it “a truly excellent horror film that gives you body horror, familial horror, and some gruesome effects. The entire cast is excellent, but Christopher Abbott takes it up another level as a classic ‘character’.”
Anthonycalls the movie “SCARY and heartwarming.” He writes thatWolf Manfeatures “some of the best jumpscares I’ve had watching a horror movie in a while! The prosthetics are insane, the acting is great, but the amount of time I had to close my eyes in fear/ disgust is what stuck with me leaving the theater…”
What The First Reactions Mean For Wolf Man
Have Initial Concerns Been Proven Wrong?
One of the first impressions audiences had ofWolf Manwas from an exhibit for the movie at Universal Studios Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights event. The design was mocked fairly extensively online for looking more like a goblin than a werewolf. Whannell addressed this in an interview withSFX Magazinein December, confirming what was spotted at the theme park is notAbbott’s Wolf Man lookin the final film, while also revealing thatthe movie’s creature is “100% practical”.
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The initial reactions suggest thatinitial concerns about the Wolf Man’s design may have been misplaced. None of the reactions take issue with the character design, and it certainly seems like the werewolf will be a very scary and disturbing element of the movie. It’s unclear whether this sentiment will be shared by general audiences, but the movie, like Whannell’s acclaimedThe Invisible Manin 2020, is shaping up to be a well-received revival of a classic Universal monster.
Our Take On The Wolf Man First Reactions
Whannell Has A Strong Track Record
As movies likeUpgrade(2018) andThe Invisible Manhave proven,Whannell is one of the most inventive and talented genre filmmakers working today.Wolf Manhas been in good hands from the jump, and it’s not surprising that Whannell’s take on a very familiar character is offering up plenty of scary surprises.
Combined with the talentedWolf Mancast, Whannell’s latest is already looking like a win. It’s not clear what the movie’s budget is, buttrailers would suggest that it’s a very contained story with limited characters, meaning it was likely not an expensive project. All of this setsWolf Manup for success in theaters, and it now won’t be long before general audiences get their hands on the movie.
Source: Various (see above)
Wolf Man
Cast
Wolf Man, released on June 17, 2025, follows Blake and his wife Charlotte as they visit his secluded childhood home in rural Oregon. After a mysterious animal attack, they become trapped inside, and Charlotte is forced to confront Blake’s disturbing transformation amidst growing tension and fear.
