Excellent but underrated film

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

In my opinion this is the best werewolf movie ever made, and I've seen all of them. It is certainly different than the classic-style "horror" films of this genre (my favorite being the Del Toro / Hopkins / Blunt film - the revised version without the awful Shakespeare segment). In contrast, Wolf has some serious character development, an intelligent story with interesting twists, great acting and directing, and is perfectly cast. Frankly, I cannot imagine a better selection than Nicholson, even if Nichols had the choice of any other Hollywood star in the century. Spader is a naturally creepy antagonist who is easy to fear and hate, and Pfeiffer is as good a choice for her role as Nicholson is for his role - intense, powerful, and with a sense of danger.I watch a ton of movies and own around 1,500 of them, and I rarely give top ratings for anything but Wolf is in a class by itself. Of all the films I've ever seen, I definitely put this film among the top fifty. Others may prefer the classic-style werewolf films but for me, an intelligent well-told story definitely trumps the tired old gothic classics, and Wolf is the most intelligent and best told werewolf film I have ever seen. I'll certainly miss Mike Nicols. It would have been nice to see another film or two of his in this genre.

Jack Nicholson plays a middle-aged book publisher, bitten by a wolf during the full moon, who undergoes a physical and psychological transformation just as his life seems to be falling apart around him. A different kind of werewolf movie but an interesting one. Nicholson does a good job, despite being somewhat miscast for the role of a nebbish. Once the transformation begins and this man starts to show his newfound wolf side, it's a role right up Jack's alley. James Spader is a treat as the sleazy villain. Michelle Pfeiffer looks as pretty as ever and has decent chemistry with the much-older Nicholson. The script is clever and fun. Rick Baker's low-key makeup won't please many horror fans but I think it was perfectly suited for this type of film. Really this isn't the kind of werewolf movie for the average horror fan who wants strong visuals and lots of violent action. It's not scary, either, in case that wasn't obvious. It's a werewolf movie for people who want something outside of the ordinary.I really liked this one and I gotta say I didn't expect to when I first saw it years ago. I'm not a big Mike Nichols fan. The kinds of films he made are not the kinds of films I tend to enjoy. I'm not saying they are bad films or that he was not a talented director. He made some classics that I did like to watch, although the idea of rewatching any of them is not particularly appealing to me. So, take my opinion on Nichols into account when I say that this is my favorite Mike Nichols movie. No, I'm not saying this is a better film than "The Graduate" or "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" or anything crazy like that. But I enjoy watching this movie more than any of his relationship dramas. The interesting thing is that, underneath the supernatural elements, this is a story about a man's mid-life crisis. That's exactly the sort of movie you expect Nichols to make, only this time the story is told in a less prosaic way by making it a werewolf movie with the subtext and dark humor that comes along with that.

This is not your typical werewolf flick, where out of luck publisher Will Randall (Jack Nicholson) has to deal with younger co-worker Stewart Swinton (James Spader), who snatches away both his job and wife. However, Will's energy and senses become stronger after being bit by a wolf. More than just a story about a human turning into a monster, the plot deals with the competition between Stewart and Will and the unlikely romance between Will and his boss' daughter, Laura Alden (Michelle Pfieffer), which gives this horror film a more unique story.The acting was good, especially the spellbinding Michelle Pfieffer and the calm yet cunning Jack Nicholson. Sound of Music star Christopher Plummer gave a nice co-star appearance. But, while the film's momentum goes fairly quickly, I thought the film lacks humor and overall charm, and I didn't find the overall horror elements of the film riveting. The drama of the film is good, but the horror doesn't quite grab your attention as other more conventional horror movies do.Grade C

an old myth and a real good director. high performance. and inspired script. one of demonstration of Jack Nicholson huge talent and slices from Hitchcock area. that is all. at first sigh. but... . it is not pure horror or a classic thriller. it is not part of a long tradition who has the wolf as axis. the key moment is occasion for viewer to discover not a story but to be part of it. that fact does the film at high level and demonstrate the genius of Mike Nichols and the force of Ennio Morricone music . the fantastic, the flavor of fairy-tale and Gothic novel are present. Michelle Pfeiffer gives a good role and atmosphere is carefully created. but the basic tool is the imagination of public. because seems be a well - known story in another form. but something is deeply different. and that detail is the source of special manner to create tension in this case, a form of mixture between old Hitchcock and new Stephan King.