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Albert Finney, Diane Venora, Edward James Olmos, Gregory Hines, Tom Noonan ... see more see more... , Dick O'Neill , Dehl Berti , Peter Michael Goetz , Frank Adonis , Victor Arnold , Ralph Bell , Roy Brocksmith , Max M. Brown , Corey Burton , Burr De Benning , E. Brian Dean , Sarah Felder , Linda Gary , Sam Gray , Charles Howerton , Reginald VelJohnson , John McCurry , Richard Minchenberg , Robert Moberly , Caitlin O'Heaney , Anne Marie Photamo , Tommy Ryan , Ray Serra , Donald Symington , Rino Thunder , James Tolkan , Jery Hewitt , Michael Wadleigh , Tom Waits , Mel Welles , Annie Gagen , Jeff Ware , Robert Louis King , Dan Sturkle , Cullen Oliver Johnson , David Connell

Wolfen, a frightening horror movie based upon a novel by Whitley Strieber, concerns Detective Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney), who gets assigned to investigate the strange murder of a millionaire and his... read more read more... wife in a downtown park. Wilson and his friend, city coroner Whittington (Gregory Hines), aided by criminal psychologist Rebecca Neff (Diane Venora) connect the killing to those of several others, primarily winos, drug addicts and derelicts, all of whom seem to have been mutilated by wild animals. Their search leads them to a group of Native Americans led by Edward James Olmos who tell them of a legend of a superior species that once roamed the area, but now are living and hunting in the slums of New York. The film is engrossing, frightening and intelligent, with sensational special effects. Director Michael Wadleigh uses these effects to great advantage, frequently showing the movements of the characters through the eyes of the "Wolfen." This film is also the screen debut of Hines. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

Flixster Users

44% liked it

5,025 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

22 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: Michael Wadleigh

Release Date: January 1, 1981

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DVD Release Date: August 13, 2002

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Stats: 231 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (231)

  • ythelastman89
    August 23, 2011
    ythelastman89
    Wolfen has a cool opening and that's about it. None of the originality and shock value that the first five minutes can be reproduced at all in the two hours that follow. Mostly, the movie just contains a ridiculous amount of semi infrared shots that make no sense; supposedly bein... read moreg how these mutant wolves see. Why any viewer needed to be exposed to so much of this lame wolf vision is beyond me. The story is just uninteresting and the ending is so obvious and lame. Albert Finney had no business being in such a b-level movie, surrounded with d-level stars. I think the biggest misconception with this movie is that it's a true werewolf movie; in no way is this even close to being part of the genre. I hate to pick on this movie so much, but there was basically nothing redeeming about it. It fails as a horror movie, a thriller, cop drama, and funnily enough as an urbanization politics piece. There's no noteworthy moments aside from the opening, which isn't worth it in the end.
  • ajv2688
    January 10, 2011
    ajv2688
    A strange, confusing, stupid werewolf movie, I hated it.
  • groaningbitch
    May 25, 2009
    groaningbitch
    "wolfen" is a political protest or an ecological dirge upon nature-wrecking urbanization which tends to provoke you into thinking so much that you demean its artistic creavities. besides the audience who chooses to watch "wolfen" has an expectation of horror relish from the werew... read moreolf legend hollywood has fromed along since 1930s along with lon chaney jr. in a nutshell, the common audience is more prepared to indulge himself within the gothic escapism of a bizarre supernatural tale instead of an anxious idealistic urge to care for the earth with sacred respect. that's exactly the merit of this movie, to evolve a mundane cheesy horror material into a meaningful interpretation, but that aspect also repulses certain audience attached to classic horror.

    the title wolfen says it outloud on what it's about, wolfen, of course. generally it's a metaphor of the retribution civilization, especially american industrialization, would receive after devastating the nature for sorbid profits, and one evident fact would be early american genocide against indians that is compared to a wolf specy which has been distincted on earth, the number of the indians american conquerers had slaughtered could literily emulate hitler to jews. (if you look into the historical diagram) mostly, it utilizes a special digital heat-wave camera perspect to represent the vision of the wolfen detecting the reddish suboteuring elements each individual possess, and the wolfen is supposed to be the villian who ruins others gruesomely, but contrarily the wolfen is the victim of the rest since its homeland has been confiscated by the capitalists and the wolfen's final resident of a wasted building has to be torn down for new urban construction so the wolfen tribe is forced to run amok to eliminate their potential intruders mercilessly. such spirit might have a similarity with "the creature from the black lagoon" trilogy in which creature is only defending the lagoon he occupies, and he's been kidnapped into aquarium as exhibition, then he has to be made to use his lung by the evolution he doesn't desire at the end. but the major differance would be creature is the losing side who's defeated by human weapons but the wolfen is the winning side who's able to practice its revenge to a degree. (maybe that's what upsets some of the audience?)

    "wolfen" is a great metaphor which could be considered excellent in the level of literature fable but would the audience enjoy "wolfen" since their primary purpose is some relaxation of other-worldly romanticism or some cheap fright of gore? would people who pick it up on the shelf give a damn to the environment and how long the earth is gonna sustain? from my experiences with people, at most of the time, regular, particularly rightist americans would dismiss anyone who favors organic food or concerned with ecology as hippies, and "trader joe's"(organic market) only opens in california and san fransisco has the biggest branch of this enterprise. so california is hippie-orientated state according to the opinion of some people. they're probably right, most people, particularly americans, take pleasure in making pollutions daily and eating un-healthy greasy food which's gonna give you cancer. (or smoking two packs of mablo a day, annoucing "i don't believe in your orangic shits")..a friend of mine once confided me that the existence of humans itself is a poison to earth, and if you wanna be friendly with the earth, people should get together to commit large-scale of suicides. it's sickeningly cynical but he has his point made. and my point is if you're the "i absolutely detest organic food" type, stay away from "wolfen", if you're leftist or neutral with a open-mind as me, you might be able to appreciate it. (even personally i don't like organic food as well but i can't say it ain't good for health, should i feel bad that organic food become a symbol of political stance?)
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 17, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Weird werewolf movie in an urban setting. It didn't work for me. The end scenes with the wolf in the skyscraper was the only part I liked. I just didn't understand what this movie was really about.
  • staindslaved
    January 13, 2012
    staindslaved
    Wolfen is a soundly crafted low-budget film with a good screenplay and good intentions. It manages to create legitimate moments of suspense despite its production limitations. Many fans will be off-put when the werewolves finally make their appearance (after like 80 minutes) an... read mored discover that the creatures in this film are actually...well...wolves. I guess we shouldn't have been that surprised really. Considering the movie breaks-down to essentially a film about a pack of wild dogs loose in the city its not surprising most people reacted and continue to react negatively to Wolfen even if it is well filmed.
  • Dannyrovira
    August 7, 2010
    Dannyrovira
    A stylish, intelligent and surreal drama of horror on an epic scale. It tells the tale of a pack of mysterious superwolves living among us, Older than man, with superior senses, extraordinary intelligence, and incredible power they prey on the sick, the weak, the dregs of society... read more, until the secret of their extstence is threatened, then these cunning breasts become a force so deadly that nothing can stop them, They will kill anyone, anywhere, there is no defense. New York City Detective Dewey Wilson, played in a brilliant, intense understated style by Albert Finney, is called in to investigate the mutilation murders of a billionaire real-estates tycoon and his wife in Manhattan's Battery Park. As Wilson looks deeper he discovers a terrible pattern of killings that stretches to the South Bronx, people are disappearing and turning up in pieces at the city morgue. But a group of Native Americans inform Wilson that a superior species known as "Wolfen" by them, are living and hunting in the ghettos of New York City. Deft performances from a stellar supporting cast that includes Gregory Hines, Dick O'Neill, Diane Venora, Edward James Olmos, and Tom Noonan. Excellently directed by Michael Wadleigh, who shows us the world as it looks and sounds through the super sight and hearing of the "Wolfen" using a stunning combination of computerized optical effects, digital recording techniques, and Steadicam and camera crane moves never before possible. Filmed on location throughtout the New York area, it includes powerful scenes shot in the South Bronx, where production designer Paul Sylbert erected the largest set ever built for a New York film, the haunting burnt-out church which serves as the Wolfen's lair. Ingenious cinematography by Gerry Fisher, this is a chilling and satisfying entertainment. Highly Recommended.
  • Hellshocked
    January 25, 2011
    Hellshocked
    Extremely underrated.
  • jim222001us
    June 9, 2010
    jim222001us
    I thought Wolfen would be about Werewolves, instead it's a strange horror film about ancient wolves that kill whoever wanders on their territory. There's a lot of B-Movie effects with limbs flying everywhere during attacks. I would have easily tossed the movie one star, if it was... read moren't for the fine performances by an excellent cast.

    Albert Finney is good of course as the detective on the case. While the late great Gregory Hines is lively and funny as his partner. But it's the under-rated character actor, Edward James Olmos that steals the show as a Native American who knows what's going on. Olmos gave a lot of good supporting performances in the 80's and this is one of his best.
  • juliantoepfer
    December 31, 2011
    juliantoepfer
    I'm not usually one to question other peoples opinions, but I have to ask what the hell is wrong with all these people rating this sucktastic film higher than 1 star?? This was definitely in the top 15 worst movies I've ever seen.

    Unbearably boring, with no backbone, no reason... read more to care, absolutely NO scares or horror of any kind, no nothing. Goofy at best plot + horrible at best script and acting = a serious serious failure.

    The score truly shows off how bad and simply uncreative James Horner is, as it is literally the exact same score from his later project, 'Aliens'. Badly filmed as well, as the 'wolf-o-vision' is laughable and mundane. Most movies of this sort are bad because they lack any sort of plot; exchanging it for mindless action/gore/whatever. This method of bad film making is at least entertaining. This film on the other hand, exchanges its plot for absolutely nothing.

    There is no 'deeper meaning' here, as some of the other reviews seem to suggest. There is no nothing, other than boring, dry, tedious, badly made garbage.
  • danielsloyan1
    November 28, 2011
    danielsloyan1
    very disappointed with this, given its cast, concept and reputation, but it failed on many levels, finney is weak in the lead, with a bad accent and no charisma, i didnt mind the supporting cast especially hines, but while i like finney in general, he just doesnt seem to be tryin... read moreg here, also the reveal for this is pretty stupid imo, it didnt make a whole lot of sense, and was pretty silly

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Critic Reviews

Chuck O'Leary
January 26, 2006
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

The often muddled, but scary Wolfen tops The Howling and An American Werewolf in London as the best of 1981's three worthwhile lupine thrillers.

Nick Schager
July 3, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Some sort of mixed-up commentary on gentrification. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
January 31, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Wolfen is a thriller with a metaphysical side to it. Full Review

Alex Sandell
March 4, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

'Sucken.'

MaryAnn Johanson
October 31, 2002
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher

Half silly and half profound. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
October 18, 2002
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide

Sets up its mysteries with an admirable tenacity, though the resolution we're ultimately offered is more than a bit forgettable. Full Review

Bill Chambers
August 8, 2002
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central

Wolfen goes through the paces of a typical detective thriller, but I'll bet you've never seen anything like it. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
April 21, 2002
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

I found it easy to root for the werewolves over the derelicts, millionaires, and arrogant police who were victimized. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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Wolfen Trivia

  • While having roles in such movies as 'Wristcutters: A Love Story' and 'Wolfen'; this singer has also had songs on the soundtracks for movies such as 'Fight Club', 'Robots', 'Shrek 2' and 'Domino'.  Answer »
  • A pack of evil wolf-beasts were hiding out in the urban sprawl and preying on the homeless in thriller "Wolfen" (1981). Who played Dewey Wilson, the New York City cop determined to battle the beasts?   Answer »
  • A pack of evil wolf-beasts were hiding out in the urban sprawl and preying on the homeless in thriller "Wolfen" (1981). Who played Dewey Wilson, the New York City cop determined to battle the beasts?  Answer »
  • 'A New York cop investigates a series of brutal deaths that resemble animal attacks.' Plot from....  Answer »
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