Wolfen is an interesting piece of The Spectrum era. I think I was the only member of my household who finished the movie back then. Everyone else was bored, if I remember properly. It's an odd exercise.
Wolfen is a pretty good illustration of late 70's/early 80's New York as much of the city's best and worst is shown with terrific cinematography throughout the film by DP Gerry Fisher (Exorcist III, Highlander, Ninth Configuration) the dude’s a legend. This is a horror film which was conceived by author Whitley Streiber (of Communion and The Oncoming Superstorm fame) and fleshed out into a screenplay by a couple other scribes. It seems a high society land developer is murdered along with his wife and body man in the wee hours of a celebratory morning. There must have been a new project approval to pad the billions.
For some reason, a law enforcement group is brought in that specializes in indigenous terrorism (led by Diane Venora) and partnered up with the NYPD. More of the same murders, gruesome for sure, with great practical effects occur, but this time it's among the city's derelict. Of course, no one seems concerned except our Hercule Poirot, legendary Albert Finney, and the coroner, a fantastic Gregory Hines, who is responsible for more than a couple laugh-out-loud moments.
Due to odd forensics, a local wildlife professor is brought in, wonderfully cast with a young Tom Noonan. For those that don't know, Noonan's career is unheralded, but contains such diverse and wonderful roles as Frances Dollarhyde in Manhunter, (far superior to Red Dragon, the quasi-remake) a soulful Frankenstein's monster in Fred Dekker's The Monster Squad, and lastly the eerie Mr. Ulman in Ti West's cracking House of the Devil.
The chase is now on for answers and stopping the murders. Local native Americans are among the suspects, including a young Edward James Olmos. But not everything is as it seems.
The script can be a bit of a slog, (that may be because this is the only narrative film directed by a chap generally used for documentaries, Michael Wadleigh, he of Woodstock fame) but Noonan and particularly Hines help that move along. A great score with early work by James Horner, who had 12 days to complete the pieces, is a boon to the film as well.
I am lucky enough to have found a great print in one of those 4 pack DVD bundles sold at a generally low cost from Warner Brothers.
Is this a Halloween Scary Film? Probably not, but it's intriguing nonetheless.
No comments:
Post a Comment