Before I saw this movie, I had read some pretty varied reviews about it, so I wasn't really sure of what to expect. I was quite happy with what I found, however.
First, I will list my impressions, and then I'll discuss the story (without too many spoilers, I hope :P). This is a dark film, and it can really immerse you. It is a bit gory, but you get so wrapped up in what's going on that it seems more like it belongs than not -- particularly as a counterbalance to the desire of the viewer to preserve (one of) the wolf-folk involved, as it shows just what devastation he causes. (Although, for viewers with kids, it's more than you'd probably want young ones watching.) The characters were well crafted, and -- even the very eccentric ones -- seemed believable. There were only one or two times, for me, when things seemed a little too "over the top". As far as casting, I thought it was perfect; Del Toro's Lawrence Talbot is perfectly dark and tragic; Emily Blunt's Gwen is ideal; Hopkin's Sir Talbot is perfectly monstrous (but in a good way!); Weaving's Inspector is equally well done; and the various superstitious/prejudiced/frightened villagers were superb in their roles.
Alright, on to the story -- and be warned, there will be **spoilers** here, although I will try to keep them to a minimum.
The story revolves around Lawrence Talbot, who receives a letter from his (recently dead) brother's fiance, Gwen Conliffe. He returns home to learn about his brother (Ben Talbot)'s death; the death of his brother aside, this is not, as you learn later (and guess immediately, by Del Toro's expressions), a pleasant return. His father -- who sent him to an asylum as a child after he witnessed the grisly death of Lady Talbot -- is morbidly distant and unconcerned, but Gwen is genuinely grieved and searching for answers. Ben's death was not only a murder, but a particularly gruesome one, and Gwen asks Lawrence to help find the killer. He sets out to do so.
Ben was torn to shreds in an inexplicable manner and left in a ditch, although some of the villagers "explain" the death by attributing it to a dancing bear that travels with some gypsies who have set up camp nearby, and others attribute the death to the work of a madman. Lawrence finds a clue that points him toward the Gypsies, so he goes to speak with them. It just so happens that -- you guessed it -- the night that he rides out is the night of a full moon.
Lawrence's investigative work is cut short by a werewolf attack on the camp; and Lawrence ends up with a life threatening wound. Gwen stays at the Hall to tend him. After a length of time, this wound rather miraculously heals; the doctor who attends Lawrence is stunned by this fact, and Lawrence is not a little surprised himself.
The next full moon arrives, and Lawrence -- seeing his father sneaking to his mother's crypt -- follows. He proceeds into a dungeon-ish room, where Sir Talbot locks himself away after a cryptic warning.
Lawrence witnesses part of his father's transformation, and turns into a werewolf himself; he proceeds to run about doing werewolf-like things (you know, ripping people to shreds and other such naughty behaviors) before collapsing/returning to human state on his father's property.
Lawrence is captured and taken back to the asylum, where he is tortured -- as well as taunted by his father who comes to "visit". Sir Talbot, when Lawrence suggests that he kill himself, declares that he will certainly not, but instead plans to keep letting the wolf take over rather than hiding every full moon in the dungeon. He also reveals that it was he who killed Ben after an argument and a bout of drinking, as well as reveals how he became a werewolf -- and the truth about Lawrence's mother's death.
The asylum incarceration continues until that full moon, when the werewolf emerges again and breaks free (destroying all that gets in his path). After returning to his human state, Lawrence seeks temporary refuge with Gwen, and then heads back to Talbot Hall to confront his father.
Gwen, meanwhile -- her and Lawrence's relationship having progressed from mutual grief at Ben's death to love -- seeks out a cure for lycanthropy -- and races to get to Lawrence before harm (or the redoubtable inspector, who has been doggedly tailing him from early on) finds him.
All of this leads to a hair-raising search through the ghoulish manor, a terrific fight, and a sad but necessary end -- with an interesting catch.
All in all, to reiterate, I thought the movie was very well done, with only a few things I would have liked changed. The acting was excellent, with only two or three lines of Del Toro's that I think could have been done better -- but, otherwise, his work was absolutely superb.
Wolfman is probably not a good one for youngsters because of the dark story and gore, but otherwise darkness/gore was appropriate.
It is not a work of genius, but all the pieces fit together very well, and stand up to scrutiny.
Finally, I would also like to note that some of the objections to Wolfman centered around the romance between Gwen and Lawrence -- namely, that there wasn't "more". I disagree; remember that Gwen is sincerely grieving Ben's death, and this romance is "accidental". If Gwen and Lawrence found themselves "in love" immediately -- or soon after -- one would be disinclined to think much of Ben and Gwen's bond, or of the character of either fiancé or brother. So, I think it was well done -- a natural, "accidental" progression.
All in all, a very good film.
Get more detail about The Wolfman [Blu-ray].
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