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Wolfen

  • 1981
  • R
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Wolfen (1981)
A New York cop investigates a series of brutal deaths that resemble animal attacks.
Play trailer2:06
2 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorThriller

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

  • Director
    • Michael Wadleigh
  • Writers
    • Whitley Strieber
    • David Eyre
    • Michael Wadleigh
  • Stars
    • Albert Finney
    • Diane Venora
    • Edward James Olmos
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Wadleigh
    • Writers
      • Whitley Strieber
      • David Eyre
      • Michael Wadleigh
    • Stars
      • Albert Finney
      • Diane Venora
      • Edward James Olmos
    • 126User reviews
    • 105Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:06
    Watch Official Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 39
    Video 15:49
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 39

    Photos180

    Wolfen (1981)
    Wolfen (1981)
    Wolfen (1981)
    Wolfen (1981)
    Wolfen (1981)
    Wolfen (1981)
    Wolfen (1981)
    Wolfen (1981)
    Edward James Olmos in Wolfen (1981)
    Edward James Olmos in Wolfen (1981)
    Wolfen (1981)
    Wolfen (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Albert Finney
    Albert Finney
    • Dewey Wilson
    Diane Venora
    Diane Venora
    • Rebecca Neff
    Edward James Olmos
    Edward James Olmos
    • Eddie Holt
    Gregory Hines
    Gregory Hines
    • Whittington
    Tom Noonan
    Tom Noonan
    • Ferguson
    Dick O'Neill
    Dick O'Neill
    • Warren
    Dehl Berti
    Dehl Berti
    • Old Indian
    Peter Michael Goetz
    Peter Michael Goetz
    • Ross
    Sam Gray
    • Mayor
    Ralph Bell
    • Commissioner
    Max M. Brown
    • Christopher van der Veer
    Anne Marie Pohtamo
    Anne Marie Pohtamo
    • Pauline van der Veer
    Sarah Felder
    • Cicely Rensselaer
    Reginald VelJohnson
    Reginald VelJohnson
    • Morgue Attendant
    • (as Reginald Vel Johnson)
    James Tolkan
    James Tolkan
    • Baldy
    John McCurry
    • Sayad Alve
    Chris Manor
    • Janitor
    Donald Symington
    • Lawyer
    • Director
      • Michael Wadleigh
    • Writers
      • Whitley Strieber(based on the novel by)
      • David Eyre(screen story) (screenplay)
      • Michael Wadleigh(screen story) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Composer Craig Safan wrote an original score for this film and was replaced at the last minute by future Academy Award winner James Horner, who had only 12 days to write and record his score.
    • Goofs
      Moments before the first murder, the killers stalk their victim (using the "night vision" effect) and pass behind a parked car, revealing the reflection of a bright sunny day in the rear hood of the car when it is supposedly taking place at night.
    • Quotes

      Edddie Holt: It's not wolves, it's Wolfen. For 20,000 years Wilson- ten times your fucking Christian era- the 'skins and wolves, the great hunting nations, lived together, nature in balance. Then the slaughter came.

    • Alternate versions
      A cameo (about 15 seconds) by Tom Waits as a bar owner playing the piano and singing his song "Jitterbug Boy" was included in theatrical prints and early TV versions, but had to be removed from the film for video and DVD releases due to copyright reasons.
    • Connections
      Featured in Trailer Trauma 3: 80s Horrorthon (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Jitterbug Boy
      Written by Tom Waits

      Performed by Tom Waits

    User reviews126

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    There is no defense...
    "They can hear a cloud pass overhead, the rhythm of your blood. They can track you by yesterday's shadow. And they can tear the scream from your throat. There is no defense." I love it when you can tell a movie is gonna be great just from it's tagline. Wolfen is one of the most thoroughly underrated films of the 80's if not film history. From moment one with it's dreamy, monochromatic, animalistic tracking shots Wolfen sets itself up as a different kind of werewolf film. With Wolfen you get three movies in one a Dirty Harry-esquire cop investigation movie with Albert Finney and Gregory Harrison turning in fine performances as the ones investigating. A graphically intense horror film, with a menacingly sadistic, creepily cool performance from Edward James Olmos and of course the barely there "Wolfen" creatures. Lastly you get a statement on environmental issues and the hierarchy of society. Tom Noonan in his pre-Manhunter existence gives the movie a touch of class as an animal lover who wants to study the "Wolfen." If you're expecting a comedic werewolf movie such as "The Howling" or "An American Werewolf in London" this film isn't for you. But if you want a great suspense mystery, with dazzling visuals and one of the greatest endings in history check Wolfen out.
    helpful•58
    37
    • omegaknight_d
    • Jan 29, 2005

    Our Favorite "When Animals Attack" Movies

    Our Favorite "When Animals Attack" Movies

    Lions, and tigers, and ... alligators? Check out our list of some of the greatest "When Animals Attack" movies.
    See our picks
    View list
    List

    FAQ4

    • The Wolfen are depicted as unstoppable, and higher on the food chain than humans. So why do they hide? Why don't they just openly roam the streets, killing and eating people left and right?
    • What did Eddie mean when he said the Wolfen went "underground"?
    • This was shot in New York?!? It looks like London, right after the blitz, with entire city blocks either flattened, or full of buildings that are vacant and half-destroyed, burned-out and riddled with holes. Why was NYC so much of a wasteland, in the early 80/late 70s?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 24, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 狼人就在你身邊
    • Filming locations
      • NE coner of 172nd Street & Seabury Place, Bronx, New York, USA(Burnt out Church)
    • Production companies
      • Orion Pictures
      • King-Hitzig Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $17,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,626,725
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,037,911
      • Jul 26, 1981
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,626,725
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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