Directed by Michael Wadleigh
Written by David M. Eyre, Jr., Michael Wadleigh and Eric Roth
Story by David M. Eyre, Jr. and Michael Wadleigh
Based on the book by Whitley Strieber
Starring Albert Finney, Diana Venora, Edward James Olmos, Gregory Hines and Tom Noonan
USA, 1981
Albert Finney stars as a washed-up, alcoholic retired New York detective who comes back to the force for one last assignment – figuring out a particularly strange string of murders. As the investigation deepens it begins to become clear that a wolf-like animal might be responsible. Finney turns to a Native American activist he once busted for some answers. In a great performance, young Edward James Olmos explains the killer is a God-like wolf spirit known as a “Wolfen.”
This is a slickly produced Hollywood horror flick full of great cinematography and even greater performances that even includes a bunch of appropriately rageful thoughts about the destruction of the environment and gentrification. It’s a movie that really has something to say, and says it with style.
On a quick side note, the score is by James Horner, who, while a great composer, often quotes his own scores and reuses bits and pieces from movie to movie. In this one, I noticed music cues reserved for the Klingon scenes in STAR TREK III – but of course, this movie came before that one, so I guess really the Klingon music in STAR TREK III is actually WOLFEN music. Who knew!
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