Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'The Wolf Man (1941)'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It's incredible when you think about how many classic films can withstand the always tough test of time. Granted the final number is likely a small one, but I would wager to say that quite a few of them come from the horror genre. After all, that genre features so many films that terrify audiences to their core. While many other films have stuck with us in our hearts and memories, it is the ones that leave us wanting to keep the lights on when we go to bed that truly had an incredible impact on us.  

Because are few emotions as impactful as fear and recently, I took the time to revisit a true classic from the golden era of horror/monster movies and man, after all this time, 1941's The Wolf Man is still a rockin' and outright iconic ride. In fact, this film is so iconic that we won't even bother with a recap of the plot because of how many people out there have seen this gem. No instead, I'd like to talk about how damn amazing a movie that's seventy-seven years old has held up so well.  

I mean after all, this is a film that has influenced many a filmmaker, including the great Tom Savini, and with good reason, because despite the low fi special effects, at least by today's standards, they still manage to find a way to wow after all these years simply on principle of appreciation. There's no CGI to wow us here, just good old fashioned and pain staking time lapse photography that well, still plays better on screen than low budget computer generated effects and that's thanks in large part to Lon Chaney's performance.

He brings to life the monster as it roams through the night. His Werewolf is ferocious and feral, a beast that only hints at the humanity that it was spawned from. He truly becomes the creature and that is cemented by his secondary performance as the nervous and uncertain Larry Talbot, the unfortunate soul now cursed with the ability to turn into this monstrous being. But the beauty of this film goes beyond its makeup effects and fine acting by doing what horror does best, relating to the common man. 

Because this movie focuses heavily on fear, such as a fear of fitting in or losing control and much of that comes by way of Larry as well since he is an outcast through and through. He is a man who left home and returned only because it seemed to be his duty to take his brother's place and he simply does not belong and the fear of trying to fit in and adapt makes this film applicable to any of us. We've all been the outcast, we've all been a monster from time to time thanks to our fears and that is why we still hold on to classics like this, because of the fact that they remind us of the evil that we are capable of, and our eternal struggle to keep it at bay.  

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