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IMDbPro

Wolfen

  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,051
340
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.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,051
340
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Michael Wadleigh
    • Writers
      • Whitley Strieber(based on the novel by)
      • David Eyre(screen story)
      • Michael Wadleigh(screen story)
    • Stars
      • Albert Finney
      • Diane Venora
      • Edward James Olmos
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Michael Wadleigh
    • Writers
      • Whitley Strieber(based on the novel by)
      • David Eyre(screen story)
      • Michael Wadleigh(screen story)
    • Stars
      • Albert Finney
      • Diane Venora
      • Edward James Olmos
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 120User reviews
    • 102Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:06
    Official Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 39
    Video 15:49
    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
      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
      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 reviews120

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    different enough and occasionally startling
    Unusual film that takes a very different path from the traditional werewolf movie. Low budget in feel, which is good, this starts incredibly well with horror, gore and bewilderment. The use of the negative image when we see through the eyes of the wolves is great, its less plastic than ordinary SFX and far more realistic than CGI, its also cheap (I've used it myself!) but the best thing about it is that it is literally an inversion of reality, which is just what you want here. Finney is fine but maybe should have been encouraged to put a little more effort in. As for his co-star, Diane Venora, in her first film, her lack of presence is worrying. I guess first time director (apart from Woodstock work) Michael Wadleigh was not used to getting the best out of his actors and indeed never made another film. Not to take away from this little gem though, not perfect by any means but different enough and occasionally startling enough to make at least one viewing essential.
    helpful•8
    1
    • christopher-underwood
    • Jun 23, 2015

    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
    • 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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