moonspinner55 A series of gory killings in and around New York City, mutilations done by a Jack the Ripper-type, are investigated by a hardened veteran police detective and his cynical female partner. Aside from some interesting Steadicam photography from the predator's point of view, this 'thoughtful' thriller about territorial spirits manifesting themselves as wolves isn't very suspenseful. Albert Finney, wrung-out and with a whopper-crop of fluffy hair, pieces together the mystery with bleary eyes and mouth askew; his blasé manner isn't used for salty humor, though--he really does look bored. David M. Eyre and Michael Wadleigh adapted their weak screenplay from Whitley Strieber's novel "The Wolfen," and Wadleigh also directed (it was his first feature following directorial duties on the 1970 documentary, "Woodstock"). In a ludicrous example of what eventually follows, the filmmakers attempt to raise shivers by having a nude Edward James Olmos run around at night like a madman, drinking from a puddle and howling at the moon. *1/2 from ****

GL84 Following a series of brutal killings, a New York detective investigating the incidents comes to believe that the incidents are caused by a pack of predatory werewolves out hunting for a specific target in their home-state and forces him to try to stop their rampage through the city.This one here turned out to be quite the enjoyable and underrated werewolf effort. One of the more impressive elements to this one is the fact that there's quite a lot to like here with the investigation into the initial attacks, which makes this one quite a bit of fun. Rather than being the usual stereotypical dull police procedural that it really could've been, this one here is a lot more lively when it comes to the officers investigating the incidents as the clues are quite broad yet don't really fit together and the ability to make them all fit together gives this one some rather enjoyable areas working throughout the first half. These are quite logically played-out and make this one turn into a really intriguing werewolf-attack study as they piece the clues together, from the autopsy reports to the boardroom investigating the first attack or the different scenes of them out on foot attest. Once it manages to get past that aspect of this one, it manages to get incredibly enjoyable with the attack scenes which are really good here, from the opening stalking of oblivious security guards to the partying couple in the park, the chilling ambush of the junkie in the abandoned building or the later stalking of the couple in their apartment where they remain oblivious to their observer outside skulking between the buildings. That picks up considerably in the final half, though, with the big attacks finally coming through with the great ambush in the church ruins as well as the finale in the streets outside the bank where it really lets their furious side get shown and manages to really give this a nice finish. The last plus here is the rather inventive use of their signature heat-vision tracking that looks really cool and unique throughout here being different enough to stand out and yet being quite logical. While these here make this one quite fun, overall it's still somewhat flawed. The biggest issue to contend with is the fact that this one doesn't have very much werewolf action at all until the final half, leaving them not just off-screen but barely even shown at all. With the focus on the investigation taking place for the majority of the film, we get very little screen-time for the creatures who are barely glimpsed even when they do appear since the body-count is depressing and disappointingly low for such a werewolf movie since it's finally nearly ninety-minutes into this one before they even appear which leaves this one feeling like quite a drag. No matter how good the attacks actually are, there's so few of them due to the investigation of the attacks rather than committing more so that causes the pacing of this one to drag down to a real sprawl which hampers this one considerably and is the weakest factor against this one. Likewise, the fact that the creatures are just simply portrayed as real wolves is a bit of a disappointment which makes their scenes look nothing more than just being surrounded by dogs and means we lose out on the transformation as well so it does feel incredibly weaker in those regards. That is enough to drag this one down with that other factor here.Rated R: Graphic Violence, Language, Full Male Nudity, drug use and violence-against-animals.

Phil Hubbs Adapted from a novel of the same name, yet after a bit of reading the movie is quite different from the book. With a title like this you'd think this film was about werewolves, but you'd be wrong. In fact it kinda depends on what source you go by, the book is sort of about werewolves, a species of creature that are descended from wolves, intelligent and probably more like werewolves than in this film. In the movie there are no werewolves and no creatures descended from the wolf line.And there lies the problem with this movie, no werewolves. The plot is all about these mysterious murders in New York, bodies are turning up badly mutilated or half eaten and everyone knows there aren't any alligators in the sewers doing this so...what gives?! Fear not, along comes the most unlikely monster hunter in the form of Albert Finney to try and crack the case, with the help of his female partner and the plucky coroner played by Gregory Hines. Now this isn't a jokey action packed supernatural thriller, oh no, its actually a reasonably slow paced detective story as we follow Finney and co snooping around in the Bronx.For the most part its quite intriguing I can't deny, I had no clue who or what was actually killing these people. You're not so sure if its actually a supernatural beastie or just some looney tune, someone close to Finney perhaps. Without trying to give the game away it is disappointing how they go about this movie, the alterations they make. Like I said in the book there are actually genuine creatures on the prowl, here in the movie they substitute monsters for wolf spirits, or more accurately, Native American wolf spirits. I'm still not sure if these wolves were actually the Native American descendants Finney's character follows up on, these guys claim they are shapeshifters in the movie. Seeing as in the book the creatures are descendants of wolves, it makes sense in this movie that the wolf spirits on the loose are Native American descendants. It never really confirms this concept (I don't think) but I'm guessing the local Natives were the wolves, or they were able to summon them maybe. What really disappointed me was the fact the wolves actually did look like proper wolves, they actually used real wolves in the movie. This of course ties in with the new Native American angle they use, but I found it an anti-climax because I wanted to see something more terrifying, more of a monster, pack of monsters. The whole movie has this pretty decent eerie atmosphere going on showing us wolf POV, how they stalk their prey, their vision, how they attract prey by making ghostly baby noises etc...Then they merely turn out to be actual wolves that you can see in the zoo or where ever. I didn't find that scary, after all the great buildup, dark moody moments and horrific deaths...they just turn out to be actual wolves.Speaking of the wolf POV shots, well blow me down if John McTiernan didn't swipe ideas from this movie for 'Predator'. I kid you not! I have read this movie is notable for its early use of thermography/thermal imaging with the wolf vision sequences. You see these sequences and right away you know McTiernan probably pinched the idea for his Arnie vehicle, but jazzed it up a bit with bolder colours. Its these sequences that really add some spice to the wolf antics in the movie, mainly because for the most part you believe its a monster or werewolf and these sequences are darn effective conveying that. What's more I do firmly believe Alan Silvestri also pinched the musical score from this film for that particular Arnie vehicle! You listen to it throughout this film and its pretty obvious if you ask me, its nearly identical! All this time I thought McTiernan and co had spearheaded such an original franchise and material.Its certainly dated these days but the gore effects hold up well, very well actually. There's something a bit off about it all though, I guess the sight of these Native American fellas and their own little bar in downtown NY doesn't quite seem to fit in with the surroundings. I can't help but think the whole thing would have worked better in the wilderness or a smallish town out west, the sight of these wolves running around the city looks more out of place than scary really. Again the choice of Finney in the lead was an odd one if you ask me, he also doesn't quite fit into the NY surroundings. Its definitely an off-kilter movie and slightly misleading at the same time, the book does sound much better and more of what you'd expect.6/10

LeonLouisRicci Certainly Different than the average Werewolf Movie...Wait...this isn't a Werewolf Movie, so let's start again. Certainly Different than Your average Horror Movie, Michael Wadleigh's Only other Film other than Woodstock (1969), is a Treat of Offbeat Gore and POV Madness.It's Ambitions Fall Short on the Environmental and Mystical Stuff at times but the way it gets there is nonetheless Chillingly Captured. The Movie may Try too Hard to Show a Number of Different Angles on the Horror of the Story...Native American Shape-Shifting, The Encroachment of Civilization on the Natural World, and Human and Urban Decay.A Fine Film that is a Different Entry in the Genre and until the Rushed and Confusing Ending it Captivates and Entertains as a Sharp and Artsy Thriller. Albert Finney is OK and the Rest of the Cast are all Good, Especially Gregory Hines and Tommy Noonan.Overall Recommend for Horror and Non-Horror Fans and those seeking something Out of the Ordinary. But, be Advised, remember its Not a Werewolf Movie (there are plenty of those to be found elsewhere) and that's only Part of what makes it Something Special.