‘Wolf Man’ Delivers Monstrous Tension in the Woods of Oregon

Wolf Man

★ ★ ★

‘Wolf Man’ is the latest offering from horror studio Blumhouse Productions where a monster terrorizes a family at a house in the Oregon woods. It’s a simple story that’s told fairly well, amping up the tension and delivering entertaining scares. Despite some of its flaws, it succeeds at being more than a passable horror film.

Blake (Christopher Abbott) has just inherited his childhood home when his father Grady (Sam Jaeger) is declared dead after a long disappearance in the woods. The house doesn’t hold the best memories for Blake as he recalls a harsh upbringing with Grady. Blake makes the trip with his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) to clear out the house.

Julia Garner as Charlotte Christopher Abbott as Blake and Matilda Firth as Ginger
© 2025 Blumhouse Productions

Blake drives Charlotte and Ginger in a moving truck deep into the woods toward the property. They encounter a neighbor, Derek (Benedict Hardie), along the way. Blake doesn’t fully remember where the house is, because it’s been a long time since he’s been there. Derek hops in their truck to help guide them.

Now driving at nightfall, Blake sees a humanoid monster in the road, slams the brakes and skids off the road.

Christopher Abbott as Blake going through changes
© 2025 Blumhouse Productions

The truck crashes sideways, landing between a cliff and several sturdy tree branches. Derek falls from the truck to the forest floor, and the monster pulls him away. The sounds of his demise echo through the forest. Blake, Charlotte and Ginger manage to run away and get to his dad’s house.

From there, Blake, Charlotte and Ginger fend off attacks from the monster. Fortunately, Grady had the house well prepared, with metal grates on the windows and other fortifications. Unfortunately, we discover Blake has a deep gash on his arm that may have come from the creature in the forest. You can probably see where this is going.

Which is more dangerous? The monster outside or the one brewing inside?

Charlotte and Ginger run from a monster
© 2025 Blumhouse Productions

Overall, the movie is well done. The filmmakers make good use of Blake’s transformation as it gives him excellent hearing and the astounding ability to see at night. As his condition progresses, he also loses the ability to understand human language. I thought this was very clever and makes his ability to hide in the shadows and stalk his prey more formidable.

I wished they gave more for Garner to do, whose breakout performance came from the hit Netflix series Ozark. Here, her talents felt underutilized, with her character simply reacting to events. Though Gerner makes the best of what she’s given, the film would have been far better had she played a more active role than simply survive-the-monster fear fodder.

All that aside, ‘Wolf Man’ has some fight in the dog and puts forth an entertaining little horror film.