Wolfen (1981)

Director:

Michael Wadleigh

Writers:

Whitley Strieber (based on the novel by)
David Eyre (screen story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 July 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

It will tear the scream from your throat.

Plot:

A New York cop investigates a series of brutal deaths that resemble animal attacks.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Murder | Wolf | American Indian | Slum

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Dewey Wilson
Diane Venora	...	Rebecca Neff
Edward James Olmos	...	Eddie Holt
Gregory Hines	...	Whittington
Tom Noonan	...	Ferguson
Dick O'Neill	...	Warren
Dehl Berti	...	Old Indian
Peter Michael Goetz	...	Ross
Sam Gray	...	Mayor
Ralph Bell	...	Commissioner
Max M. Brown	...	Christopher van der Veer
Anne Marie Pohtamo	...	Pauline van der Veer
Sarah Felder	...	Cicely Rensselaer
Reginald VelJohnson	...	Morgue Attendant (as Reginald Vel Johnson)
James Tolkan	...	Baldy
John McCurry	...	Sayad Alve
Chris Manor	...	Janitor
Donald Symington	...	Lawyer
Jeffery Ware	...	Interrogation Operator
E. Brian Dean	...	Fouchek
Jeffery V. Thompson	...	Harrison (as Jeffery Thompson)
Victor Arnold	...	Roundenbush
Frank Adonis	...	Scola
Richard Minchenberg	...	Policeman
Raymond Serra	...	Detective (as Ray Serra)
Thomas Ryan	...	Detective
Tony Latham	...	Victim
David Connell	...	Victim
Jery Hewitt	...	Victim
Roy Brocksmith	...	Fat Jogger in Park (as Ray Brocksmith)
Michael Wadleigh	...	Terrorist Informer
Joaquin Rainbow	...	Native American
John Ferraro	...	Native American
Rino Thunder	...	Native American
Glenn Benoit	...	Native American
Eddy Navas	...	Native American
Ricky Hawkeye	...	Native American
Pete Dyer	...	Native American
Paul Skyhorse	...	Native American
Gordon Eagle	...	Native American
Javier First-Day-Of-Light	...	Native American
George Stonefish	...	Native American
Julie Evening Lilly	...	Native American
Jane Lind	...	Native American
Annie Gagen	...	ESS Operator
Max Goff	...	ESS Operator
Cullen Johnson	...	ESS Operator
Robert L. King	...	ESS Operator
Robert Moberly	...	ESS Operator
Caitlin O'Heaney	...	ESS Operator
Tony Stratta	...	ESS Operator
William Sheridan	...	ESS Operator
Linda Gary	...	ESS Voice (voice)
Charles Howerton	...	ESS Voice (voice) (as Charles Howerdton)
Burr DeBenning	...	ESS Voice (voice)
Corey Burton	...	ESS Voice (voice)
Patricia Parris	...	ESS Voice (voice) (as Pat Parris)
Andre Stojka	...	ESS Voice (voice)
Dan Sturkie	...	ESS Voice (voice)
Mel Welles	...	ESS Voice (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Diane Bivens	...	Revolutionary Woman (uncredited)
Robert Dahdah	...	Crowd (uncredited)
Daniel D. Halleck	...	(uncredited)
Tom Waits	...	Drunken Bar Owner (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Wadleigh

Writing credits
Whitley Strieber		(based on the novel by)
David Eyre		(screen story) and
Michael Wadleigh		(screen story)
David Eyre		(screenplay) and
Michael Wadleigh		(screenplay)
Eric Roth		uncredited

Produced by
Rupert Hitzig	....	producer
Alan King	....	executive producer
Michael Wadleigh	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Gerry Fisher

Film Editing by
Marshall M. Borden
Martin J. Bram		(as Martin Bram)
Dennis Dolan
Chris Lebenzon

Casting by
Cis Corman

Production Design by
Paul Sylbert

Art Direction by
David Chapman

Set Decoration by
Alan Hicks

Costume Design by
John Boxer

Makeup Department
Frank Bianco	....	hair stylist
Carl Fullerton	....	special effects makeup
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist
Michael R. Thomas	....	gore makeup (uncredited)

Production Management
G. Mac Brown	....	assistant production manager
William C. Gerrity	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Barnett	....	first assistant director
Steven Felder	....	first assistant director
Alex Hapsas	....	first assistant director
Hall Hitzig	....	second assistant director
Rupert Hitzig	....	second unit director
Deborah L. Marrs	....	dga trainee (as Debbie Marrs)
Stephen A. Glanzrock	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Billy Bishop	....	prop assistant (as William Bishop)
Edward Garzero	....	master scenic artist
James Halligan	....	construction grip (as Jim Halligan)
Richard Hughes	....	master scenic artist
Herbert F. Mulligan	....	set dresser (as Herb Mulligan)
Carlos Quiles	....	chief carpenter (as Carlos Quiles Sr.)
Jimmy Raitt	....	property master
Eoin Sprott	....	art director: special props (as Eion Sprott)
Bobby Wilson	....	prop assistant
Polly Wood-Holland	....	scenic artist (as Polly Wood Holland)
George Kousoulides	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Richard M. Kristy	....	lead man: second unit (uncredited)
Richard Shelton	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lon Bender	....	sound effects editor (as Lon E. Bender)
Jay Cassidy	....	dialogue editor
James A. Corbett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joanne D'Antonio	....	dialogue editor
Jill Demby	....	dialogue editor
John Duffy	....	sound effects editor
John Fundus	....	boom operator
Stan Gilbert	....	sound effects editor
Robert Grieve	....	sound effects designer
Robert Grieve	....	sound effects supervisor
Scott Hecker	....	foley sound editor
Randy Kelley	....	sound effects editor
Andrew London	....	sound effects designer
Andrew London	....	sound effects supervisor
John M. Lowry	....	assistant sound effects editor (as John M. Lowery)
Dennis Maitland	....	sound mixer (as Dennis Maitland Sr.)
Kim Maitland	....	sound recordist
Charles McCann	....	dialogue editor
Anthony Milch	....	sound effects editor
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald Ortiz	....	assistant sound effects editor
Ken S. Polk	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Richardson	....	sound effects editor (as Paul Bruce Richardson)
John Roesch	....	foley sound designer
John Roesch	....	foley sound supervisor
Robert R. Rutledge	....	foley sound designer
Robert R. Rutledge	....	foley sound editor
Robert R. Rutledge	....	foley sound supervisor
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound effects editor
Burton Weinstein	....	dialogue editor
Jim Bryan	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound editor/design (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Connie Brink	....	special effects (as Conrad Brink)
Ron Ottesen	....	special effects
Bill Traynor	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Robert Blalack	....	special visual effects
Beth Block	....	optical supervisor: Praxis
Betzy Bromberg	....	visual effects group: Praxis
Laurel Klick	....	visual effects group: Praxis
Candace Lewis	....	visual effects group: Praxis (as Candy Lewis)
Sarah Pasanen	....	visual effects group: Praxis
Chris Regan	....	visual effects group: Praxis
Nancy Rushlow	....	visual effects group: Praxis
Donna Tracy	....	visual effects group: Praxis
Anne Van Der Vort	....	visual effects group: Praxis (as Anne Van derVort)
Max W. Anderson	....	visual effects (uncredited)
David Merritt	....	visual effects group: Praxis (uncredited)
Jonathan Seay	....	visual effects cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Glenn Benoit	....	stunts
Lisa Cain	....	stunts (as Lisa A. Cain)
Tony Farentino	....	stunts
Janis Feiger	....	stunts
Tim Gallin	....	stunts
Ricky Hawkeye	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunts
Steve James	....	stunts
Richard Kline	....	stunts
Victor Magnotta	....	stunt coordinator (as Vic Magnotta)
Pete Miller	....	stunts
Edgard Mourino	....	stunts (as Edgard L. Mourino)
Eddy Navas	....	stunts
Joaquin Rainbow	....	stunts
Konrad Sheehan	....	stunts
Tony Stratta	....	stunts
Nicholas Toth	....	stunts
Victoria Vanderkloot	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Fredric Abeles	....	director of photography: New York (as Fred Abeles)
Bob Bailin	....	insert photography (as Robert Bailin)
Don Biller	....	second assistant camera
Garrett Brown	....	Steadicam photographer
John Burke	....	electrician (as John F. Burke)
Michael Burke	....	electrician (as Mike Burke)
Ted Churchill	....	additional Steadicam operator
Ken Connors	....	best boy
John Donohue	....	grip
Russell Engels	....	gaffer (as Rusty Engels)
Christopher T. Gerrity	....	grip (as Chris Gerrity)
Michael Ginsburg	....	still photographer
Jim Hovey	....	first assistant camera
Dan Lerner	....	additional Steadicam operator
Billy Miller	....	key grip
Mike Miller	....	grip
Tom Priestley Jr.	....	camera operator (as Tom Priestly)
Andy Romanoff	....	crane operator: Louma crane (as Andrew Romanoff)
Don Stern	....	insert photography
Joseph Di Pasquale	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Vinnie Gerardo	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Sal Martorano	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Joy Todd	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
William Loger	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Terrisa Algarin	....	apprentice editor
Donah Bassett	....	negative editor
Mary Bauer	....	assistant editor
Destiny Borden	....	apprentice editor
Marshall M. Borden	....	post-production executive
Anita Brandt-Burgoyne	....	apprentice editor (as Anita Brandt)
Cathy Carr	....	negative editor
Arthur Coburn	....	post-production coordinator
Rudolph Freeman	....	assistant editor
Thure Gustafson	....	assistant editor
Howard Heard	....	assistant editor
Robert W. Hedland	....	assistant editor: New York
Darren T. Holmes	....	apprentice editor (as Darren Holmes)
Milan Klein	....	assistant editor
Kevin Lee	....	assistant editor: New York
Jordan Leondopoulos	....	editor: New York
Richard Nord	....	assistant editor: New York
Cecilia Reyes	....	apprentice editor
William Sands	....	assistant editor
Randy D. Thornton	....	assistant editor (as Randy Thornton)
Jacque Elaine Toberen	....	post-production coordinator (as Jacque Toberen)
Camilla Toniolo	....	assistant editor: New York
Tracy Granger	....	assistant/apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor (as Robert Badami)
Kenneth Karman	....	music editor
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer
James Horner	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James Fanning	....	transportation captain
Patrick Hogan	....	driver
Bobby Marsh	....	driver

Other crew
Patricia Barrow	....	photo researcher (as Pat Barrow)
Patricia Barrow	....	production assistant (as Pat Barrow)
Susan Bednarczyk	....	assistant production coordinator
Jack Benson	....	production assistant
Michael Besman	....	production assistant
Destiny Borden	....	assistant to producer
Timothy J. Burke	....	production assistant (as Timothy Burke)
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Martha De Laurentiis	....	assistant: Cis Corman (as Martha Schumacher)
David De Lia	....	production assistant
Michael Doret	....	title treatment
Jonathan Filley	....	production assistant
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	titles
Janiss Garza	....	production assistant
Sidney Gecker	....	script supervisor
Dulcinda Gose	....	researcher
Daniel D. Halleck	....	production assistant (as Dan Halleck)
Jeff D. Haynes	....	animal trainer
Joe Hornok	....	animal trainer (as Joe Hornak)
John Kane	....	unit publicist
Brooke Kennedy	....	assistant location coordinator
Anne Kingman Page	....	assistant: Mr. Wadleigh
Adeline Leonard Seakwood	....	production coordinator
Paula Mazur	....	production assistant
Lauren McGowan	....	production assistant
Peter R. McIntosh	....	location unit manager
Bruce Sands	....	production assistant
Patricia Sibley	....	assistant to producer
Lucille Smith	....	production accountant (as Lucille Masone Cannon)
Bruce Stoff	....	production assistant
George Toth	....	animals technical supervisor (as George N. Toth)
Nicholas Toth	....	animal trainer (as Nicholas S. Toth)
Helena Walsh	....	animal trainer (as Helena T. Walsh)
Jerry Winikoff	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation (presents)
• King-Hitzig Productions

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros (1981) (USA) (theatrical) (through)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1982) (France) (theatrical) (as UGC-Europe 1)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Belgium) (VHS)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1985) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Praxis Film Works

Other Companies

• Blue Light Sound  foley sound editing
• Data General Corporation  computer equipment
• Durango Systems Inc.  computer equipment
• Filmtrucks  louma crane
• Hewlett Packard  computer equipment
• Lion's Gate Sound  sound re-recording
• Magnavox Display Systems  computer equipment
• Modern Film Effects  optical effects
• NEC Information Systems  computer equipment
• R2E of America  computer equipment
• Sanyo  special insert equipment
• Staempfli Gallery  sound sculptures
• Vector Graphics Inc.  computer equipment
• Wallaworks  sound effects editing
• Welsh Video Services Inc.  video segments

Also Known As:

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (MegaSound encoding) (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:M | Norway:15 | UK:18 | West Germany:16 | USA:R (certificate #26425) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1989) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1987) | France:U (with warning) | Portugal:M/18

Filming Locations:

Charlotte Street, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Dustin Hoffman seriously wanted to play the role of Dewey Wilson, but was refused the part by director Michael Wadleigh who really wanted to work with Albert Finney, who was his favorite actor. It was the only time in his career that Hoffman was rejected for a part.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the night-vision scope/surveillance sequence with Dewey and Whittington, the scopes change angles and gain/lose sections from shot to shot.

Quotes:

[about the wolves]
Old Indian:They're shiftless. They might be gods!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Supernatural: All Dogs Go to Heaven (#6.8)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Jitterbug Boy

Sharp teeth and an intelligent screenplay!

Wolfen – not wolves, like a terrifically spiritual Edward James Olmos explains it to us – is a truly inspired and solid horror film that belongs to the best genre-achievements of the 80's. Terrifically set in the pauperized wastelands of New York, where an ancient terror unconquerably reigns. Only when someone of political importance vanishes in these suburbs, attention is drawn and an investigation is started. Albert Finney is well cast as the confused police officer who slowly has to face the fact that the murders in his district are committed by inhumanly strong forces, more and more resembling to animal attacks. The script of Wolfen (based on Whitley Strieber's novel) is a compelling one and it's filled with original and imaginative ideas containing spiritual motivations and even historical elements. A basic script like that, accompanied by a stunning photography and convincing acting can only result in a terrific, overlooked horror classic. Two thumbs up for this film! Director Wadleigh even satisfied the more mainstream horror fans as his film includes a couple of bloody killing sequences and a constant frightening tone. Finney and Edward James Olmos are the most impressive cast members, yet they receive good feedback from Tom Noonan (in one of his earliest roles), Gregory Hines (I don't believe I ever saw him in a horror film before) and Diane Verona. Fans of action-packed werewolf film may face a disappointment when purchasing this film, but all other open-minded cinema audiences are in for a really pleasant surprise. Wolfen is highly recommended and thought-provoking entertainment!