The Wolfman’s reaction teases Lee Vanello’s horror film after a design dispute

The studio that previously brought you the classic stable of Universal Monsters movies has ripped off modern efforts like Tom Cruise’s The Mummy and The Dark Universe That Shouldn’t Have Beenand truly inspired course corrections like 2020’s Lee Vannello’s The Invisible Man are now targeting the next long-awaited horror update. Universal is clearly following the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” strategy by bringing Vanello back into the fold and letting him work his signature magic again — this time with just the latest retelling of The Wolf Man. The famous story of unsuspecting victims succumbing to the most horrific transformations when the moon becomes full is a story almost as old as cinema itself, but it’s safe to say we’ve never seen it unfold quite like this.

At least, that seems to be the main takeaway from the earliest reactions to The Wolf Man , thanks to the small number of critics and journalists who were lucky enough to get a press screening much, much earlier than the rest of the plebeians. (No, I’m not terribly jealous or anything, why do you ask?) The further we get away from the Dark Universe and its very flawed approach to channeling the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the more this feels like happiness in disguise. The disastrous results apparently spooked studio executives, leading to a major adjustment where they had no choice but to make room for talented, visionary directors (as the kids say) to cook up.

Check out what critics are saying about The Wolf Man below, new creature design and all.

At Leigh Whannell, we trust! The Australian filmmaker proved his mettle as a screenwriter for various films in the Saw and Insidious franchises before wowing audiences with his 2018 directorial of Update. He finally found near-universal recognition with The Invisible Man two years later, and now it looks like it’s time for him to take another victory lap after his double lightning strike in The Wolf Man. Fans surely know they’re in for a variety of creative scares, blood-slicing knife-cut tension, and palpable homages to classic Universal Monsters. It’s all present and accounted for this time around, and what’s more, it feels like you’ll think twice about stepping into a spooky forest in the middle of the night after watching The Wolf Man.

But don’t just take my word for it. This is according to the editor and writer of The Mary Sue Rachel Leishmanwho wrote on X (formerly and still popular as Twitter) that the film “will leave you afraid of the dark! Watched this film with my feet in the air because I was terrified of what might grab my ankles. Just tense a thrill from start to finish.” She went on to rave starring Christopher Abbott as “the star” taking over the show as Blake’s doomed husband and father.

Critic Griffin Schiller went even further, claiming that those who loved The Invisible Man have nothing to worry about: “Lee Whannell continues to be a master of space and sound with The Wolf Man. A damn good reimagining that sounds like The Shining by the “Fly”. A claustrophobic parental panic attack with terrifying body horror and a surprising amount of heart. If you liked The Invisible Man, you’ll love this!” If you need further confirmation, Benjamin Watts of IGN echoed those thoughts with his own reaction: “(‘The Wolf Man’) howls with raw emotion and haunting intimacy. Lee Whannell creates a storm of grief and fury, echoing the dark elegance of ‘The Invisible Man’ (2020). If this film (” “The Wolf Man”) that resonated with you will leave an equally deep mark.”

Of course, this reimagining of horror is the furthest thing from a one (wolf) man show. While audiences will no doubt see just how bloody, brutal and sickening this new take on The Wolfman will be, it wouldn’t be a Lee Vannello film if there wasn’t something even more emotional to do. you can hold on. That’s thanks to the film’s two other leads, consisting of Julia Garner and Matilda Firth as Blake’s wife Charlotte and daughter Ginger, respectively. Family dynamics prove to be an integral part of the story the director is telling here, judging by many of the subsequent reactions.

Peter Gray of The AU Review put it this way: “2025 was a great year to begin with (The Wolf Man”). Lee Whannell stripped away all the fat and delivered a tense, no-nonsense thriller that wrapped an animistic narrative into a story of intergenerational relationship dynamics, loss, and trauma. Nick L’Barrow of NovaSteam agrees wholeheartedly, calling the film “a taut, straight-ahead thriller in which Christopher Abbott unleashes the battle between man and beast through his powerful performance! Julia Garner is the heart and humanity of the drama. Leigh Vanello’s insane visual and aural work is jaw-dropping!”

And to put a fine point on it, Discussing the film Andrew Salazar sure to attract attention a redesign of the titular Wolfman, which has been the subject of some controversy in recent months. Although the marketing has hardly shown the true image of the Wolf Man, fans are in for a treat. According to Salazar, “Lee Whannell’s The Wolf Man is a wildly fun take on the classic werewolf movie. Less is more in this spectacular story of generational guilt. The ‘infected’ wolfman design also works much better on screen .. Very different but also complements the Invisible Man.

Feeling a little feverish after reading all that unanimous praise? Don’t worry, it’s (probably) just hype. The Wolf Man will be released in theaters on January 17, 2025.