On Jan. 7, 2025, almost two weeks before “Wolf Man” entered theaters, Universal Pictures released the full werewolf transformation on social media. This was a puzzling move from the studio, as the transformation from man to werewolf is one of the most exciting parts of the genre.

The spoiler is not a huge deal because, like the rest of the movie, the transformation in this werewolf flick is incredibly lackluster.

“Wolf Man” is directed by horror darling Leigh Whannell, who has been heavily involved with franchises like “Saw” and “Insidious,” as well as directing well-loved films such as “The Invisible Man” and “Upgrade.”

The film stars Christopher Abbott as stay-at-home dad Blake, Julia Gardner as his employed wife Charlotte and Matilda Firth as their daughter Ginger. It follows the family as they visit Blake’s recently deceased father’s house in Oregon. Their trip takes a turn when they are attacked by a werewolf, and Blake gets scratched. The family must seek refuge at his father’s house as Blake descends into primality.

While solid at the beginning, “Wolf Man” loses momentum once the family reaches the house. The film drags as we see Blake succumb to his injury, and the characters are not interesting enough, nor do they have enough chemistry with each other to keep the audience fully invested in their predicament. Abbott and Gardner are not given a lot to work with within the script, resulting in performances that leave much to be desired, especially from actors who are known for much better work

Gardner’s character is particularly shallow. Due to her employment, she is unable to connect with the rest of the family, primarily her daughter. The conflict is not fully explored as much as it could be, and her character is often stuck to the side for the equally uninteresting A plot. The underdeveloped characters lead the film to fall flat in its emotional moments.

Blake’s final werewolf design is disappointing as well, and he comes off as more comical looking than werewolves should be, especially considering he is supposed to be a threat in the film.

While it may sound like I despise “Wolf Man,” that’s not entirely true. There are some things to like about Whannell’s movie.

The opening of the film is great. It follows a young Blake and his father who must escape a werewolf when they are out hunting deer. There’s a lot of tension in the sequence, and the scenery is quite beautiful.

Though taking place in Oregon, the film is shot in New Zealand, which makes the location’s beauty stand out even more. Sadly, due to the film mainly taking place in an old house, there’s not as much action in nature as I would’ve liked.

The gore is also good. The werewolf transformation process is similar to David Cronenberg’s “The Fly.” Instead of an explosive transformation sequence like in John Landis’ “An American Werewolf in London,” Blake turns more into a werewolf over the course of the night. This leads to some gnarly body horror, such as losing teeth and limb mutilation. “Saw” fans will appreciate one specific reference to the first film.

For the most part, though, the movie is a dull and disappointing addition to the canon of werewolf films. However, if you’re a fan of Whannell’s past work, horror or werewolves, then it wouldn’t hurt to check “Wolf Man” out.