Wolfen

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Wolfen

R

1981

1h 55m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

New York City police investigator Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney) is trying to solve a series of grisly deaths in which the victims have seemingly been maimed by feral animals. He teams up with expert criminologist Rebecca Neff (Diane Venora), and together they stumble upon a band of inner-city Native Americans, led by the streetwise Eddie Holt (Edward James Olmos), who warns Wilson and Neff about a wolf-like, mythical creature that could offer a shocking solution to this disturbing case.

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Critics Consensus

Police procedural meets werewolf flick in Wolfen, a creepy creature feature with a surprisingly profound side.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

07/03/2005

C+

Some sort of mixed-up commentary on gentrification.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

10/23/2004

3.5/4

Love, thought, care and craftsmanship have gone into this film.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

11/30/2023

4/5

…a big, meaty studio film with lots to say about how the worship of money turns us against each other…

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Phil Edwards

Starburst

07/27/2022

Wolfen is not a werewolf movie. Exactly what it is I'm not sure, but don't let my uncertainty put you off what is, for the most part, an enjoyable film.

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C.H. Newell

Father Son Holy Gore

05/07/2019

4.5/5

A crime-thriller-style plot with elements of a police procedural that makes a statement about the plight of Native Americans specifically in big urban centres.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

10/06/2017

The werewolf movie was revived and reworked with a vengeance in 1981 and Wolfen (1981) was a far more radical take on the genre than An American Werewolf in London or The Howling, though not as popular as either.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Oct 28

Success in 1 hour and 55 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ages 17 and older!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Ronald F

Apr 13

I love the scenes, Finney and Hines have together and that this is the only feature film Michael Wadleigh made after "Woodstock". Even if the effects today feel totally dated, they give the movie a unique charm and work well with the depressing atmosphere of New York City in the early 80`s. Albert Finney is brilliant and I could watch and listen to him the whole movie, even if nothing else would happen 🙂

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Gabriel W

Feb 5

Wolfen, Fright Night, An American Werewolf in London, House (Teil 1), Lost Boys, Zeit der Wölfe; Near Dark, Night of the Creeps, Gremlins, Dracula'79, Teufelskreis Alpha, Lifeforce... Da ist etwas, was sich heutzutage nicht mehr wiederholen lässt. Es ist sehr schwer Filme dieser Art zu finden. Wolfen hat eine einzigartige Atmosphäre. Der geerdete Cop, der immer tiefer in eine mysteriöse Geschichte um Wölfe in der Großstadt gezogen wird. Die Kills, die man in der Art und der Sicht vom Wolf, nie wieder so gesehen hat. Die Stadt, wie sie heute nicht mehr Aussieht. Das gesamte Setting und der Ton. Das Story Telling, um die Ermittlungen. Geht es vielleicht um elnen Werewolf? Die Verknüpfung mit indianischer Mythologie. Natürlich die Dialoge. Diese Art zu reden in jener Zeit Und nicht zu letzt, die Darsteller Riege. Absolut Sehenswert

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Alec B

02/22/2024

Each of the characters become enduring right after they are introduced (no doubt due to the consistently funny dry humor) which is sort of a rarity for these kinds of monster movies. Also, the movie almost completely avoids certain obvious narrative choices in favor of something weirder which I always appreciate

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Daniel C

10/15/2022

horror gelijk vroeger met echte dieren geen weerwolven die mens zijn en veranderen in wolven neen gewoon dieren met goede speciale effecten voor die tijd redelijk spanning en horror. wolven die mensen vermoorden maar dit zijn geen gewone wolven maar volgens de legende zouden het geesten zijn van indianen die hun grond beschermen. lang geleden gezien en gekocht om dvd

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steve m

10/13/2022

I don't understand the high scores this movie got from Ebert and Metacritic. It was just average to me.

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Michael Wadleigh

Director

Albert Finney

Dewey Wilson

Diane Venora

Rebecca Neff

Gregory Hines

Whittington

Edward James Olmos

Whittington

Tom Noonan

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Synopsis

New York City police investigator Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney) is trying to solve a series of grisly deaths in which the victims have seemingly been maimed by feral animals. He teams up with expert criminologist Rebecca Neff (Diane Venora), and together they stumble upon a band of inner-city Native Americans, led by the streetwise Eddie Holt (Edward James Olmos), who warns Wilson and Neff about a wolf-like, mythical creature that could offer a shocking solution to this disturbing case.

Director: Michael Wadleigh
Production Co: Orion Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 24, 1981, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 29, 2012
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround

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