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Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader, Kate Nelligan, Richard Jenkins ... see more see more... , Christopher Plummer , Eileen Atkins , David Hyde Pierce , Om Puri , Ron Rifkin , Prunella Scales , Christopher Birt , Lia Chang , Starletta DuPois , Thomas F. Duffy , Bradford English , Irene Forrest , Madhur Jaffrey , Brian Markinson , Dwayne McClary , Kirby Mitchell , Jennifer Nicholson , Cynthia O'Neal , Eva Rodriguez , Stewart J. Zully , Lisa Emery , Jose Soto , Juliet Taylor , Ellen Lewis , Allison Janney , David Schwimmer , Peter Gerety , Joanna Sanchez , Oz Perkins

Jack Nicholson becomes a werewolf in this bizarre comedy-horror film directed by Mike Nichols. Nicholson plays Will Randall, a book editor with a testosterone deficit who has just been sacked at his p... read more read more...ublishing firm by a new boss, Raymond Alden (Christopher Plummer). A colleague, Stewart Swinton (James Spader), whom Randall thought was his friend, betrays him. Randall's personality changes after he hits a wolf with his car and gets bitten by the creature. He immediately feels more powerful, has heightened hearing and vision, and sets about to right the wrongs in his life. He visits Alden at the publisher's mansion to protest his dismissal, and he is asked to leave -- but Alden's daughter Laura (Michelle Pfeiffer) asks him to stay for lunch. Laura loves to defy her father. Will tells her about the wolf bite, and she becomes attracted to him. But because werewolves usually kill the ones they love, Laura is in danger. Will reasserts his place in the publishing world, supported by his loyal secretary Mary (Eileen Atkins), and his relationship with Laura deepens. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

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42% liked it

43,093 ratings

Critics

61% liked it

49 critics

R, 2 hr. 5 min.

Directed by: Mike Nichols

Release Date: June 17, 1994

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DVD Release Date: October 21, 1997

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Flixster Reviews (1,166)

  • aquateen2
    March 31, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img]

    Jack Nicholson is totally commmited into his role and is probably the best part of this horror flick. Well it wasn't scary at all so I wouldn't actually call it horror. I enjoyed the premise of Wolf more ... read morethan the actual film. It's got decent direction and a few laughs but it was aggresively unamibitious in it's execution. It could have been better but I enjoyed Nicholson and the attempt at something better than a production line werewolf movie. It's very cheesy and it isn't good but then again it isn't bad either.
  • moonrivers
    October 2, 2011
    moonrivers
    Mike Nichols directs this update of the wolfman myth with Jack Nicholson as the victim/monster. Here its played interestingly as sort of a desirable thing, a fountain of youth, an answer to societal submissiveness. Michelle Pfieffer adds spice as the woman drawn into it.
  • puffchunk
    July 31, 2011
    puffchunk
    Hm. Not great for sure, but not terrible. The end was pretty dumb.
  • SirPant
    April 19, 2011
    SirPant
    Wolf is quite dated now and it's very cheesy but take it with a pinch of salt and a knowing wink and you'll enjoy it. Mike Nichols is quite a hit and miss director but this is the first of his films where I've been right in the middle with.
  • fb100000257973100
    February 19, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    Like the legends of the vampires, werewolves are one of the most abused and tainted urban Legends and folklores out there and it is hard to make one that takes the legend seriously and is able to breathe new life into it. Well, here is a film that does a damn good job about it an... read mored does it right. The direction of this film is, for the most part, very well done. The story is kept suspenseful, the presence of the evil is here, and we see the harm and danger the power of the werewolves causes on it's human victim plus we see some cultures explain their version and the prevention of this creature. But the thing I like the most is how the wolfs look in this film. While watching this film, I was reminded of the Robert Rodriguez film "From Dusk Till Dawn". In that film, it had vampires. But these vampires still looked human while being complete demons from Hell. The same thing is said here. These are wolfs that are werewolves, but keep intact human characteristics. That is what is needed. Now, the acting is spot on with wonderful performances from Jack Nicholson (Academy Award Winner for One Flew Over The Cuckooâ(TM)s Nest) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Cat Woman in Time Burton's Batman Returns). One thing I like is how Jack Nicholson makes a presence that feels like that at any moment, he could go off and go crazy. He is perfect for this film and it shows it. Now, the script to this film is rather interesting. You all know the saying "This is going to the dogs?" Well, this film is something of a metaphor for the destruction of the publishing house and how it is going to the dogs. What is happening now is that people are hiring inexperienced yuppies to take control of industries while allowing the people that do know how to do the job in the dark and forgotten. This film predicts that in a very good and convincing way. Now, the score is done by the master of films scores himself: Ennio Morricone. Morricone, who done the score for John Carpenter's The Thing creates a score that is erriely reminiscent of The Thing, and I like how it works here. His scores take a life of their own and, in return, go on to create more than likely one of the best werewolves films out there. Bottom line: This film overshadows the damage done by modern film makers in the text of werewolves and is a film that should now be missed.
  • ythelastman89
    December 8, 2010
    ythelastman89
    I really enjoyed this re-imagining of The Wolf Man a lot. Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer and James Spader were all perfect for their roles. I actually thought the traditional werewolf look worked well, they didn't need to have an effects driven monster. It's certainly a chang... read moree in Mike Nichols usual style, which was nice. It's a lot of fun and definitely worthy of the character. In fact, it might just be my favorite version of the story.
  • stormyweather980
    September 10, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Will Randall (Jack Nicholson) is the senior editor of a big book company and his life isn't as great as he would like it to be. However, things drastically change, and mostly improve, for Will after he is bitten by a mean looking wolf. Will soon finds out that he is changing more... read more and more every day and that he is becoming like a wolf. Before long, he has better vision, hearing, and a spectacular sense of smell, but not everything has improved for Mr. Randall. Since he is now a lot more like a wolf, animals are now afraid of him and he becomes a murderer, just by following his wolf instincts. Will Mr. Randall find out what he's becoming, and is there a way to stop it?
    "Wolf" is a pretty good movie. The makeup and the special effects in the movie aren't some of the best, but they get the job done. Jack Nicholson does a good job of acting and so does Michelle Pfeiffer as Will's new love interest. "Wolf" is a moderately exciting movie, it doesn't have as much blood and gore as you would expect it to have. It also doesn't have as much action as I would've liked to have seen, but it was still an entertaining movie and I recommend anybody who likes horror movies to at least watch "Wolf." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. Worst Nicholson movie I've ever seen, cause most of his rock.
  • phubbs1
    July 18, 2009
    phubbs1
    Was Jack born to play this, I think so. He's a great wolf with his snarling smile and evil eyes. Pfeiffer is hot as hell and the two smoulder. Its a nice idea for the genre but its alittle lame to be honest. The yellow eyes of the werewolfs are good and kinda the films key contri... read morebution for their wolf look, but its Jacks weirdness that you wanna see.
  • TheGame90
    July 5, 2009
    TheGame90
    I don't know...I didn't see the conflict in this movie....okay..he's a wolf....but nobody got hurt by it
  • Stinger839
    April 5, 2009
    Stinger839
    Saw this on AMC this week.

    Was a childhood favorite and still a favorite now, especially since the main characters are in the publishing industry.

    A great thriller with some of my favorite actors. Minimalistic wolf stylings are effective and probably planted the idea in my hea... read mored that a younger Nicholson would have made a great Logan/Wolverine.

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Critic Reviews

Rick Groen
April 12, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

If he'd followed through, Mike Nichols might have made a brilliant picture -- seems he just couldn't bear to look a gift wolf in the mouth. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Nichols has crafted a rapturous romantic thriller with a darkly comic subtext about what kills human values.

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Nichols has allowed Wolf to evolve from a well-mounted, supernatural drama to goofy camp. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

A sometimes shaky, always enchanting Beauty and the Beast story for grown-ups that is the very essence of smart fun -- droll, sophisticated and surprisingly, pleasingly light. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

An effective attempt to place a werewolf story in an incongruous setting, with the closely observed details of that setting used to make the story seem more believable. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
January 1, 2000
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

It's a wonderfully entertaining and beautifully performed film. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Monster movies are supposed to frighten the audience; this one fails utterly in that arena. Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.
October 27, 2010
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

A guaranteed good time for anyone looking for a different kind of horror film... Full Review

Peter Canavese
October 26, 2009
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

Mike Nichols' underrated 1994 hybrid not only of wolf and man, but also of satire and horror...an eccentric film that may well be regarded, decades hence, as a movie classic. [Blu-ray] Full Review

James Plath
October 16, 2009
James Plath, Movie Metropolis

With the always edgy, slightly demonic, and predictably unpredictable Jack Nicholson as the wolf man, it actually works . . . almost. Full Review

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