After a preview screening of Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man, a re-imagining of the classic werewolf monster, critics have started posting early reactions (though not full reviews).




These advanced screenings aren’t in exchange for good reviews. If a critic didn’t like what they saw, most would be honest about that. That bodes well for Wolf Man, because the responses were impressive. Horror fans should be excited for January 17.

Peter Grey, The AU Review: 2025 is off to a great start with #WolfManMovie. Leigh Whannell trims all the fat and lays out a tense, no nonsense thriller that wraps its animistic telling in a story about relationship dynamics, loss and generational trauma. Pristine sound design and organic scares all round.

Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky: 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! #WolfManMovie


Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue: #WolfMan will leave you afraid of the dark! Watched this movie with my feet up on 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!

Hunter Bolding, ThatHashtagShow: Wolf Man is everything that I wanted and then some. 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 to another level as a classic “character”. @WolfManMovie25



You Should Watch The Invisible Man

A few years back, Universal wanted to turn their slate of iconic monsters into an MCU-like franchise. They started their bold strategy with 2017’s The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise in what’s a pretty over-the-top blockbuster that would kick off the Dark Universe.

A collage that has a Mummy and a woman from Evil Dead Rises

Related

The Mummy: Reboot Promises To Be “Very Frightening” According to Director Lee Cronin

A new horror movie based on a mummy is on the way, and has nothing to do with Tom Cruise or Brendan Fraser.

It didn’t go well. Neither critics nor audiences were particularly impressed. And while a box office of $410 million sounds good, the budget was close to $200 million. Universal saw the writing on the wall, so they canceled the whole shared universe. Instead, they opted to go the opposite way and make stand-alone, mid-budget pictures.


The first project of the new strategy? The Invisible Man (2020), written and directed by Lee Whannell. I actually saw it in theaters twice because I was so impressed. I went in expecting something okay-to-bad, but Invisible Man ended up being my favorite movie in 2020. It was sharp, fresh, meaningful, and compelling. I think it’s one of the best horror movies of the last decade. Elizabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen all give striking performances.

The budget was a paltry $7 million, but the box office return was $144.5M. Invisible Man has a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 88%. It’s a great movie that feels like it’s flown a bit under the radar. That’s why I recommend it to everyone.

When people say Wolf Man is good, I’m inclined to believe them.