Title: Wolf
Media: Film, directed by Mike Nichols.
Written by Jim Harrison and Wesley Strick, and directed by Mike Nichols, the film was released in 1994 by Columbia Pictures. The plot begins when protagonist Will Randal (Jack Nicholson) hits a wolf with his car on the night of the full moon during a trip in Vermont. Overcome by sympathy or curiosity, he leaves his car and is inevitably bitten by the wounded animal.
Upon returning home, Will Randal is met with the possibility of losing his job as a Senior Editor for a publishing company. Unsurprisingly, this has caused him to grow deeply cynical about his career and his life. He visits the doctor to receive a rabies shot, where the doctor dismisses his story, telling him that there are no wolves in Vermont. Luckily, Will stands his ground and firmly states: “You don’t confuse a dog with a wolf.” As Will resumes his life and career, he begins to notice subtle changes occurring to him. Animals react negatively, and even fearfully to his presence, and he begins to grow a layer of coarse hair around the healing wolf bite.
Among the more beneficial changes that Will experiences, is heightened senses. Giuseppe Rotunno’s cinematography is truly masterful in the scene which portrays Will’s experience with a heightened sense of hearing. Despite these changes, he continues to struggle with managing his threatened career, working through office politics while he attempts to understand the frightening changes occurring to his body.
The film takes an interesting approach to the myth of the werewolf, utilising the control of the full moon over the beast introduced to werewolf mythos by the 1941 Wolf Man, yet the aspect of the transformation is deeply changed. The transformation, although it can be resisted, will eventually become permanent. While he transforms into a hybridised wolfman at night, and seeks out acts of violence and bestial urges, he will eventually completely transform into an immortal wolf. Interestingly, the 2012 novel The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice harbours similar themes in regards to the werewolf curse’s commentary on bestial human nature and sensuality.
The overall plot of Wolf is a narrative rollercoaster of romantic drama, and a man’s efforts to retain his fragile humanity despite the wolf spirit that’s taken residence in his body. The film’s dialogue is exciting, and engaging, and I personally applaud the film for its maintaining supernatural subtlety while Will balances his complicated work life and newfound wolfish habits. While the film itself is not particularly memorable as a cult classic of horror fiction, it is nonetheless a notable contribution to werewolf media.
As always, be sure to appreciate your local monsters.
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