Wolfen is a 1981 american crime horror film directed by michael wadleigh and starring albert finney, diane venora, gregory hines and. The film would eventually be released, sans definite article, in 1981,3 coinciding with a minor revival of werewolf cinema an american werewolf in london, the howling. The creature perspective visuals, creative cinematography and the interesting use of unusual locations add a lot of depth and a creepiness to the feel of the picture as a whole. Film s unique perspective of the nature of the beast and the themes involved make wolfen completely unlike its lycanthropian brethren. In the beginning of 1979, screenwriter david eyre and director michael wadleigh began working on an adaptation of whitley striebers novel the wolfen, published the previous year. Harry potter complete 8film collection bluray brand new sealed free ship. Upon hearing that intrada released the complete score to this 1981 movie, i had to get my hands on a copy. November 2017 learn how and when to remove this template messagelearn how and when to remove this template message. When i first heard about wolfen, i had no idea what it was about. Ambientato a new york, il film venne distribuito dalla warner bros. The creature perspective visuals, creative cinematography and the interesting use of unusual locations add a lot of depth and a creepiness to the feel of the picture as a. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. Love, thought, care and craftsmanship have gone into this film.
A new york cop investigates a series of brutal deaths that resemble animal attacks. The film follows a city cop who has been assigned to uncover what is behind a series of vicious murders. Originally, it is believed the murders are animal attacks, until the cop discovers an. What people didnt know, and the studio did their best marketing spin to keep it that way, was that wolfen was not a werewolf movie like the previous two. Films unique perspective of the nature of the beast and the themes involved make wolfen completely unlike its lycanthropian brethren. Castdirector film highlights interactive menus scene access theatrical trailer. Wolfen came out in a period of about a yearandahalf that heralded a major revival of werewolf movies most notably the howling 1980 and an american werewolf in london 1981, as well as larry cohens outrightly comedic take full moon high 1982. The academy award winner of best picture of 1981 was chariots of fire. Wolfen official trailer this straightforward, intelligent film puts a new spin on the werewolf legend, presenting the creatures as a superior species living in the slums of new york city. Released in 1981, in the middle of the early 80s horror boom, wolfen was lumped in with the same years two big werewolf pictures, an american werewolf in london and the howling, and was regarded as the runt of the lupine litter but that isnt really accurate or fair. Wolfen was released theatrically in the united states by orion pictures through warner bros. Wolfen is definitely the oddest and most socially conscious of the three big werewolf movies released in 1981 the others were the howling and an american werewolf in london. It stars albert finney, diane venora, gregory hines and edward james olmos. Craig safan was the first composer hired to score the underrated mystical horror film wolfen unfortunately, the film suffered postproduction problems and problematic test test screenings.
After doing some research, i found that to his credit, james horner scored this horror film. Rumpled detective albert finney is investigating some brutal. The films church lair was created in the south bronx and interiors were filmed on new yorks astoria studios. May 16, 2007 the trailer of one of my favourite movies, wolfen. Movie typography from the film wolfen 1981, directed by michael wadleigh, starring albert finney, diane venora, edward james olmos, gregory hines, tom noonan. Wolfen soundtrack from 1981, composed by james horner.
Though not a 5 star movie, its a very solid tale with some incredible alfresco scenes providing a reference. Michael wadleigh horrorthrillermovie usa 1981 cast. Federal hall, wall street, lower manhattan stylish and bloody ecohorror, from the director of woodstock, has strangelyaccented cop dewey wilson albert finney investigating a race of superwolves, descended from native american hunters, who live by scavenging on the big apples downand. This seriousness reportedly did not impress the releasing studio, united artists, which would have preferred a sleazy exploitation picture and is releasing wolfen as if it were one. Great 1981 film, as the surreal superintelligent wolfen stalk humankind in retaliation for ongoing destruction of their once natural habitat. Jul 02, 2012 watch the trailer for wolfen, directed by michael wadleigh and starring albert finney. Albert finney, diane venora, edward james olmos akas. Although an item in the 9 jan 1979 nyt reported that wolfen would begin filming in april, the 24 oct 1979 var noted filming began on monday, 22 oct 1979. With albert finney, diane venora, edward james olmos, gregory hines. After the resounding success of woodstock 1970, filmmaker and political activist michael wadleigh came to hollywood to send messages. Michael wadleighs 1981 film wolfen adapts whitley striebers novel, in which albert finney plays a detective investigating brutal murders with the culprits turning out to be superintelligent wolves.
It was the only film wadleigh directed other than his legendary 1970 documentary woodstock, which must be one of the oddest pairs of films. Love, thought, care and craftsmanship have gone into this film, which is now, so to speak, being thrown to the wolves. Wolfenone of three killer werewolf movies released in 1981 and kickstarting the best decade for horror explosively, yet a contrary voice howls its disapproval over it using the werewolf moniker, and a considered and valid view, considering there is not one bestial metamorphosis in it, setting it quite apart from its sameyear brethren. Oct 07, 2017 wolfen is an oddduck film, and one gets the sense while watching it that it couldnt possibly have been what the studio was wanting or expecting, especially once you look at the marketing. This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Wolfen is an oddduck film, and one gets the sense while watching it that it couldnt possibly have been what the studio was wanting or expecting, especially once you look at the marketing. Both the howling and american werewolf were notable in their unique and original deconstructions of the werewolf film and most importantly. My copy came in today, no damages and i am very pleased. Wolfen was released on dvd by warner home video on august, 2002. Staring albert finney, gregory hines, diane venora and edward james olmos. Wolfen 1981, directed by michael wadleigh and starring. Similar to thermography, the technique was later adopted by other horror films such as the predator film series.
Wolfen, loosely based on whitley striebers bestseller began production in new york, oct 1979. Much of the film was shot on location in the south bronx, the lightly trafficked wasteland around charlotte street being ideal for filming and perfect to the extent that wolfen is, as evan calder williams writes, a documentary horror film. An intriguing film named wolfen, which is not about werewolves but is about the possibility that indians and wolves can exchange souls, has. Wolfen 1981, albert finney horror movie videospace. We got john landiss amazing an american werewolf in london and joe dantes equally excellent the howling, but there was a third wolf film out that year that many people have forgotten called wolfen. Were your movie poster source for new releases and vintage movie posters. Watch the trailer for wolfen, directed by michael wadleigh and starring albert finney. Wolfen 1981 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Warner home video would later rerelease the film in 2004 and 2007, with the latter release being a part of. Wolfen one of three killer werewolf movies released in 1981 and kickstarting the best decade for horror explosively, yet a contrary voice howls its disapproval over it using the werewolf moniker, and a considered and valid view, considering there is not one bestial metamorphosis in it, setting it quite apart from its sameyear brethren. Director michael wadleigh was let go and new filmmakers were brought on board to complete the film. With tom noonan, richard stanley, mike medavoy, michael wadleigh. Movie posters 1981 w wolfen wolfen 1981 a city cop is assigned to solve a bizarre set of violent murders where it appears that the victoms were killed by animals. Wolfen this straightforward, intelligent film puts a new spin on the werewolf legend, presenting the creatures as a superior species living in the slums of new york city.
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