The Wolf Man

Name: The Wolf Man
Genre: Mystery, Horror, Romance
Released: December 12, 1941
Duration: 70 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Bela Lugosi, Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Fay Helm, J.M. Kerrigan

1941

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: December 12, 1941 | Passed

Starring: Bela Lugosi, Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Fay Helm, J.M. Kerrigan, Lon Chaney Jr., Maria Ouspenskaya, Patric Knowles, Ralph Bellamy, Warren William

Summary: A practical man returns to his homeland, is attacked by a creature of folklore, and infected with a horrific disease his disciplined mind tells him can not possibly exist.

Director: George Waggner

Genre(s): Mystery, Horror, Romance

Rating: Passed

Runtime: 70 min

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Critic Reviews

100

R.L. Shaffer

The Wolf Man is one of a kind. Read full review

Keith Phipps

The Curt Siodmak-penned, George Waggner-directed film uses werewolf legends as an excuse to put modern minds comfortable living with moral ambiguity into conflict with undeniable evil. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

The Wolf Man is a compactly-knit tale of its kind, with good direction and performances by an above par assemblage of players, but dubious entertainment. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Screenwriter Curt Siodmak patched together the legend of the werewolf by combining elements from lycanthropic folklore, witchcraft, and Bram Stoker's Dracula, creating a new monster for the screen. All elements combined to make a thrilling, scary, and ultimately tragic horror classic. Read full review

Empire Kim Newman

Still the definitive werewolf movie. Read full review

Collider Gaby Shedwick

What, on the surface, appears as a gothic tale of the occult with shocking visual mutation, is actually a tender tale of misunderstanding and tragedy. Read full review

Theodore Strauss

The wolf man is left without a paw to stand on; without any build-up either by the scriptwriter or director, he is sent onstage, where he, looks a lot less terrifying and not nearly as funny as Mr. Disney's big, bad wolf. Read full review

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User Reviews

imthenoob

Sep 22, 2019

Finally watched it for the first time and it was satisfying enough. The cast does a solid job. They tell a decent story at a relatively quick pace. I am a bit disappointed with the lack of the Wolf Man's onscreen time but other than that, no real issues with the movie.

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HellHoleHorror

Jul 2, 2023

I don't like this kind of film. It was really old and relied too heavily on the imagination of the viewer. There is no imagination left in my mind when I am watching a film. I want the media to fill in that gap. The dialogue is the worst and so is the music. They question the existence ofI don't like this kind of film. It was really old and relied too heavily on the imagination of the viewer. There is no imagination left in my mind when I am watching a film. I want the media to fill in that gap. The dialogue is the worst and so is the music. They question the existence of the Wolf Man too much. Did you know that “were” is an old word for “man”? I just found it really boring to watch. Not just boring but actually painful as it was so uneventful. Werewolf films are generally bad, except for possibly Ginger Snaps (2000), The Howling (1981) and An American Werewolf in London (1981). Maybe others too on reflection like that carnivore one... I just can't think of them right now. It’s a horror by monochrome numbers. It was so formulaic that it was not good.… Expand

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