The big bad wolf is back

 

Well first off, to state the obvious, this is a remake. Not only that, but it is a remake of what many consider to be a classic.

Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) is an English born American actor who hasn't spoken to his family in years. While in London, he receives a letter from his brother's fiancée, Gwen (Emily Blunt,) imploring him to return to Talbot Hall to help search for his missing brother, Ben Talbot (Simon Merrills).

He does return, only to learn that his brother's body has been found, and it has been mutilated in a most inhuman way. The local townsfolk immediately cast long hard looks at a gypsy tribe staying in the area, and blame the gypsies and their trained dancing bear.
On the night that Lawrence goes to investigate, it is a full moon, and there is a savage attack, and people see that it is a wolf that moves with preternatural speed and determination. Lawrence is bitten. His wound is treated by the gypsies, who then return him to Talbot Hall.

We watch as he begins to suffer from Lycanthropy, the condition of being a werewolf. Soon we learn who infected him, and how he is being used as a scapegoat to cover this other person's identity.

This reboot of an old franchise of Universal studious is well done. The characterization could have been deeper, but is satisfactory. Anthony Hopkins, playing the role of Sir John Talbot, plays his part perfectly. He's cold, distant, and disinterested, until almost the end, when he shows quite a bit of emotion.  His character has a line in which he says he is basically dead. Hopkins does a superb job of playing someone who is dead inside, who no longer has any passion or concern for life and is emotionally drained and empty, and just no longer gives a damn. He doesn't come off as an actor playing the part of someone who doesn't care, but does such an excellent role of conveying these feelings, it seems like he truly doesn't care.

Blunt plays her role, first as grieving lover, then as cautious love interest nicely as well. The audience can tell that she is interested in this brother of her fiancé, but that she is still mourning the loss of her fiancé as well. She is Not weepy or overly emotional at her loss, but resigned and emotionally conserved.

Del Toro was passable. He did a very good job with the material he had, but his character never evolves, at least not before he is bitten. Something more could have been done with his part.

The effects are decent.  They could have been better, but there are some very cool and grizzly dismemberments and an awesome beheading. It is on the gory side, but these scenes seem to be a so over the top that they aren't that disturbing, and sometimes even comical.

It's worth watching, but it would be nice if Hollywood would come up with something new instead of constantly remaking what has already been done well.  Plus, horror is always better in black and white.