Wolf Man’s gory practical effects get a detailed look in a new video from Leigh Whannell’s upcoming horror movie. Co-written and directed by Whannell – also known forSaw,Insidious, and 2020’sThe Invisible Man– the upcoming horror movie is a reboot of the classic 1941 film, following a family man who moves into his inherited childhood home and is attacked by a werewolf during a full moon, leading to his terrifying transformation that endangers his wife and daughter.Wolf Man’s castincludes Christopher Abbott in the titular role alongside Julia Garner, Matilda Firth, and more.
Now, shared byUniversal Pictures,a new behind-the-scenes video provides a detailed look at the gory practical effects in the upcomingWolf Man. The video features co-writer–director Leigh Whannell and special make-up effects designer Arjen Tuiten explaining why practical effects were the right choice for the film, along with its stars Julia Garner and Matilda Firth’s first reactions to seeing Christopher Abbott in full make-up. Check out the video below:
What Wolf Man’s Gory Practical Effects Mean For The Movie
Leigh Whannell Took A Different Approach
In the new behind-the-scenes video, co-writer and directorLeigh Whannell discusses his “very different” visual approachto theWolf Manreboot. Instead of trying to top Jack Pierce, Stan Winston, and Rick Baker’s make-up for past iterations, Whannell decided to take his reboot in a completely different direction, inspired by the body horror of John Carpenter’sThe Thingand David Cronenberg’sThe Fly. The result was, as makeup artist Arjen Tuiten puts it, one of the scariest things he’s ever seen.
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Based on the partial looks seen in the BTS video and theWolf Mantrailer, Christopher Abbott’s titular monster doesn’t seem to have the same hairy appearance as Lon Chaney Jr.’s portrayal in the original 1941 film, witha renewed emphasis on creating a more realistic look through practical effects. The trailer has already teased a more monstrous transformation, showing Abbott’s character gradually becoming more animalistic. Given the success of Leigh Whannell’sThe Invisible Man, his changes toWolf Manshould also reinvent the classic Universal Monster in a new and interesting way.
Our Take On Wolf Man’s Practical Effects
Why They’re So Effective
Wolf Man’s use of practical effects is very different from the original 1941 film, which relied on much simpler, albeit groundbreaking techniques for its time. Leigh Whannell’s reboot embraces modern craftsmanship, creating a more visceral and terrifying transformation with tangible effects.Practical effects often evoke more authentic audience reactions than CGIby providing a physical presence on set, as seen in Julia Garner and Matilda Firth’s first reactions to seeing Christopher Abbott in make-up, grounding its primary performances and enhancing the overall realism ofWolf Man.
Wolf Man
Cast
Wolf Man, released on August 05, 2025, follows Blake and his wife Charlotte as they visit his secluded childhood home in rural Oregon. After a mysterious animal attack, they become trapped inside, and Charlotte is forced to confront Blake’s disturbing transformation amidst growing tension and fear.
