Talk about a blast from the past! I had not seen 1994’s Wolf since the 90s, so I was excited to check this out again after all these years. This is a movie that has a great cast with Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, and James Spader in the lead roles. It is a movie that does not get talked about as one of Jack Nicholson’s best or even one of the best werewolf movies, but it is certainly one of the more unique werewolf movies for sure.
Where to Watch Wolf
Wolf was released on June 17, 1994. You can stream the film from a digital platform.
The Movie Review
Why Wolf Stood Out in the VHS Era
Before we get to the movie, I have to talk about a really weird memory of Wolf that I have, and it is actually the reason I wanted to watch Wolf as a kid. In the early to mid-90s, VHS was kind, but the quality was not the best. There was this special kind of VHS tape that supposedly offered a clearer image and better sound, and I remember, I think it was either Dumb and Dumber or Street Fighter, advertising this new VHS technology, and Wolf was the movie they used to show it off, and that was why I wanted to watch Wolf.
A Closer Look at the Movie’s Plot and Performances
Ok, enough of story time, is Wolf a movie that is worth watching? I would say yes, this is a pretty solid werewolf movie, and a movie that I did enjoy watching again. Jack Nicholson plays the role of a high-up editor for a book firm, but he is being pushed out due to his age. Jack Nicholson is always awesome, and as Will Randall, I think that he does a great job.
We also have Michelle Pfeiffer as Laura Alden, the daughter of the owner of the book company that Will works for. James Spader is awesome as the slimy guy who is looking to take Will’s spot…. And his wife! I completely forgot that James Spader was in this movie, but man, he nails this role, and you just hate him from the moment you meet him.
Transformation and Conflict
Will is driving at night when he hits a wolf! Will gets out of the car to check on the wolf and ends up bitten, and this, of course, starts to change him. Will feels younger, stronger, and more virile, and he also strikes up a relationship with Laura. Will starts to realize what is happening to him, but he keeps changing and causing havoc when he does. We also have a situation with James Spader’s Stewart having an affair with Will’s wife, which leads to a disastrous encounter!
Final Thoughts
To be honest, I would not say that Wolf is one of my all time favorite werewolf movies that I have seen. However, this is a pretty unique kind of werewolf movie, and for the time in 1994, this was a very different kind of movie. I remember watching this as a teenager and thinking it was kind of boring. I just wanted to watch it to see just how “clear” this new VHS image was. Watching it again, probably 30 years later, I appreciate what they did here, and I could see myself adding this to the Halloween rotation every now and again.
