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IMDbPro

Wolf

  • 19941994
  • RR
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
56K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,005
670
Wolf (1994)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer2:05
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Horror
  • Romance
Publisher Will Randall becomes a demon wolf and has to fight to keep his job.Publisher Will Randall becomes a demon wolf and has to fight to keep his job.Publisher Will Randall becomes a demon wolf and has to fight to keep his job.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
56K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,005
670
  • Director
    • Mike Nichols
  • Writers
    • Jim Harrison
    • Wesley Strick
  • Stars
    • Jack Nicholson
    • Michelle Pfeiffer
    • James Spader
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mike Nichols
  • Writers
    • Jim Harrison
    • Wesley Strick
  • Stars
    • Jack Nicholson
    • Michelle Pfeiffer
    • James Spader
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 167User reviews
    • 85Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 10 nominations

    Videos1

    Wolf
    Trailer 2:05
    Wolf

    Photos200

    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)
    Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson in Wolf (1994)
    Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Wolf (1994)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Nicholson
    Jack Nicholson
    • Will Randallas Will Randall
    Michelle Pfeiffer
    Michelle Pfeiffer
    • Laura Aldenas Laura Alden
    James Spader
    James Spader
    • Stewart Swintonas Stewart Swinton
    Kate Nelligan
    Kate Nelligan
    • Charlotte Randallas Charlotte Randall
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Detective Bridgeras Detective Bridger
    Christopher Plummer
    Christopher Plummer
    • Raymond Aldenas Raymond Alden
    Eileen Atkins
    Eileen Atkins
    • Maryas Mary
    David Hyde Pierce
    David Hyde Pierce
    • Royas Roy
    Om Puri
    Om Puri
    • Dr. Vijay Alezaisas Dr. Vijay Alezais
    Ron Rifkin
    Ron Rifkin
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Prunella Scales
    Prunella Scales
    • Maudeas Maude
    Brian Markinson
    Brian Markinson
    • Detective Wadeas Detective Wade
    Peter Gerety
    Peter Gerety
    • Georgeas George
    Bradford English
    • Keyesas Keyes
    Stewart J. Zully
    Stewart J. Zully
    • Garyas Gary
    Thomas F. Duffy
    Thomas F. Duffy
    • Tomas Tom
    Tom Oppenheim
    • Butleras Butler
    Shirin Devrim
    • Party Guestas Party Guest
    • Director
      • Mike Nichols
    • Writers
      • Jim Harrison
      • Wesley Strick
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the beginning of production, Jack Nicholson told Special Make-up Effects Supervisor Rick Baker that he was allergic to spirit gum. While he initially didn't believe him, Baker agreed to use a specific medical adhesive on Nicholson which made hand laying the hair on him very difficult as opposed to using spirit gum. One day after he made up James Spader using spirit gum, Baker unintentionally used the same bottle of spirit gum on Nicholson. Baker soon realized what he had done and hoped that Jack wouldn't find out seeing how nothing happened during the application. The next day, Baker was horrified to see that Nicholson wasn't lying as he entered the make-up trailer with large red swells on his face. Nicholson said, "Ricky boy, you used spirit gum, didn't you?" Baker apologized for the confusion and Nicholson stated, "Well, let's just hope it doesn't happen again." Fortunately for everyone, it didn't happen again.
    • Goofs
      There was no blood on Will's teeth and mouth after he kills the deer.
    • Quotes

      Will Randall: What do you do?

      Laura: Why do you care?

      Will Randall: I don't. I was just making polite conversation.

      Laura: I'd rather not discuss what I do.

      Will Randall: You know, I think I understand what you're like now. You're very beautiful and you think men are only interested in you because you're beautiful, but you want them to be interested in you because you're you. The problem is, aside from all that beauty, you're not very interesting. You're rude, you're hostile, you're sullen, you're withdrawn. I know you want someone to look past all that at the real person underneath but the only reason anyone would bother to look past all that is because you're beautful. Ironic, isn't it? In an odd way you're your own problem.

      Laura: Sorry. Wrong line. I am not taken aback by your keen insight and suddenly challenged by you.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Speed/The Endless Summer 2/The Lion King/City Slickers II: The Legend of Curley's Gold (1994)

    User reviews167

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Unapologetic and serious modern monster movie
    Ever since the 1940s, filmmakers attempting to make a new monster film, in the vein of the classics Dracula or The Wolf Man are often saddled with the contempt or disbelief provoked in response by contemporary audiences, leaving the end result either comedic or a camp attempt at a thriller incapable of being taken seriously or enjoyed by anyone other than caffeine riddled thirteen year olds. After numerous of said attempts, it was refreshing, to say the least, to experience a film which would normally fall under the aforementioned category, but which took its subject matter in a straightforward and serious fashion, helmed by a quality filmmaker and with a strong enough cast to properly sell some of the less credible aspects of the production. The result was Wolf, a modern werewolf film not intended as a joke or cinematic money grabber, but instead an intelligent look at the themes which thrilled 1940s audiences in a contemporary context.

    Director Mike Nichols should be commended for instilling his subject matter with enough dramatic intensity to appeal to an adult demographic, without forgetting the primary intent of such a film - to thrill and chill its audiences in turn. But rather than milking the audience's emotions with a series of oh so trite horror clichés, Nichols is willing to forgo outright shock value screams for a continual chilling sensation - a more subtle and ultimately more eerie touch many modern hackneyed attempts at horror could learn volumes from. Adding to Wolf's credibility is some creative and intriguing camera work, although the continued use of slow motion during dramatic points does begin to appear hokey after a while, despite working brilliantly at other points.

    The quality of the film is also strongly aided by a strong script, brilliantly paced between frights and character development; also a rarity considering the genre, and with just enough fleeting moments of perfectly placed comedic relief. The ever reliable Ennio Morricone contributes a wonderful score, a sublime tribute to the horror films of old without ever seeming clichéd. The filmmakers should also be commended enormously for resisting the temptation to overload the werewolf character with special effects, and take the classic makeup route instead. In an industry inundated with computer altered special effects, there is something very laudable about seeing an actual actor covered in prosthetic hair giving an actual performance, rather than a CGI created monstrosity. Whether intended as a tribute to the original Wolf Man (the facial hair designs are unmistakably familiar to Lon Chaney Jr.'s infamous antihero) or simply taking inspiration from it, the makeup works enormously well, and gives a welcome dose of nostalgia in a modern incarnation of the genre.

    The casting of Jack Nicholson as a modern day werewolf may have immediately come across as a very mixed blessing, inciting excitement that such an iconic actor was taking a shot at a part which seemed tailor made for him, and fear that Nicholson might simply coast by on the premise, and indulge in his tendency to drift over the top to the point of pantomime, effectively ruining the intent of the film. Thankfully, Nicholson also had the credulity to take his subject matter seriously, and emerge with a perfectly tuned performance. Nicholson channels his legendary charisma into an entirely credible character, riddled with pathos and dark menace, easily dispelling fears that his facial prosthetics might come across as laughable, and emerging with a surprisingly powerful and very serious performance. Michelle Pfeiffer gives a tremendously charismatic and entirely believable performance as Nicholson's surprisingly well written love interest - rather than being reduced to screaming and floundering around, Pfeiffer injects her character with real human emotions, taking what could have been a routine romantic lead and nearly stealing the film in one of the most impressive performances in her career. James Spader makes a deliciously slimy antagonist, and classy support is provided from Kate Nelligan, Richard Jenkins and Christopher Plummer.

    What might have degraded into cheap watered down horror trash culminated as an intelligent, mature and unapologetic modern monster thriller, made all the stronger by its firm, capable direction, intelligent and wonderfully paced script, with excellent performances from Nicholson and Pfeiffer. Wolf makes a wonderful modern take on the Wolf Man classic right down to the facial prosthetics, and is easily worth seeing for any fans of the genre in the mood for a horror film which refuses to patronise its audience - a very refreshing change.

    -8/10
    helpful•42
    3
    • pyrocitor
    • Aug 17, 2007

    FAQ10

    • What is "Wolf" about?
    • Is "Wolf" based on a book?
    • Was Will bitten by a werewolf?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 17, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Sói
    • Filming locations
      • Bradbury Building - 304 S. Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $70,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $65,002,597
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $17,911,366
      • Jun 19, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $131,002,597
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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