The studio that previously brought you the classic stable of Universal Monsters movies, wrongly throwing out modern attempts like Tom Cruise's The Mummy and The dark universe that was not meant to beand genuinely inspired course corrections like 2020's Lee Whannell's The Invisible Man now set their sights on the next highly anticipated horror update. Universal is clearly taking the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" strategy by bringing Whannell right back and letting him work his signature magic all over again—this time, with nothing but the latest retelling. from The Wolf Man. The familiar story of unsuspecting victims undergoing the most terrifying transformations when the moon is full is a story almost as old as cinema itself, but it's safe to say we've never seen it play out quite like this.

At least, that seems to be the main takeaway from the earliest reactions to The Wolf Man, thanks to a slew of critics and journalists lucky enough to catch the cut far, far earlier than the rest of us plebeians. (No, I'm not deeply jealous or anything, why do you ask?) The further we get from the Dark Universe and its painfully flawed approach to channeling the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the more it feels like a blessing in disguise. The disastrous results seem to have directly scared the studio executives off, leading to a major adjustment where they had little choice but to make room for talented, visionary filmmakers to cook (as the kids say).

Check out what critics are saying about Wolf Man below, new creature design and all.

We trust Leigh Whannell! The Australian filmmaker proved his worth as a writer on various films in the Saw and Insidious franchises before blowing audiences away with his 2018 directorial Upgrade. He finally gained near-universal acclaim with The Invisible Man just two years later and, now, it seems time for him to take another victory lap after lightning twice in The Wolf Man. Fans can certainly expect all kinds of creative scares, bloody knife-cut tension, and palpable homages to classic Universal Monsters. It's all there and about this time, and what's more, it sounds like you'll think twice about stepping into a creepy forest in the middle of the night after watching The Wolf Man.

But don't just take my word for it. That's according to the editor and writer of The Mary Sue Rachel Leishmanwho announced on X (formerly and still popularly known as Twitter) that the film "will leave you afraid of the dark!" excitement from start to finish." She went on to praise main lead Christopher Abbott as a "star", stealing the show as doomed husband and father Blake.

Critic Griffin Schiller went even further, claiming that those who loved 'The Invisible Man' had absolutely nothing to worry about: 'Lee Whannell continues to master space and sound with 'Wolf Man'. The Shine" by way of "Muva". A claustrophobic parental panic attack with nasty body horror and incredible heart. In case you need even more confirmation, Benjamin Watts of IGN echoed those thoughts with its own reaction: “('Wolf Man') howls with raw emotion and haunting intimacy. Lee Whannell creates a storm of sadness and ferocity, echoing the secret elegance of The Invisible Man (2020). If that film resonated with you, ('Wolfman') will leave its mark just as deeply.''

Of course, this horror reimagining is the furthest thing from a one-man (wolf) show. As much as audiences will undoubtedly see how gritty, violent and gritty this fresh take on the Wolfman gets, it wouldn't be a Lee Whannell film if there wasn't something even more emotional to hold on to. . That comes courtesy of the film's other two leads, Julia Garner and Matilda Firth as Blake's wife Charlotte and daughter Ginger, respectively. Family dynamics prove to be integral to the story the director is telling here, according to many of the following reactions.

Peter Gray the AU Review puts it this way: “2025 is off to a great start with ('Wolfman'). Lee Whannell trims all the fat and delivers a tense, no-nonsense thriller that wraps its animistic narrative in a tale of relationship dynamics, loss and generational trauma. Nick L'Barrow of NovaSteam wholeheartedly agrees, calling the film "a taut, straight-ahead thriller that sees Christopher Abbott unleash the battle between man and beast through his powerful performance!" Julia Garner is the heart and humanity of the play. Lee Whannell's insane visual and auditory creativity is incredible!"

And to put a fine point on it, Discussion of the film Andrew Salazar cares to draw attention to the redesign of the titular Wolfman, which has been the subject of some controversy in recent months. While the marketing has barely shown much of what the Wolf Man actually looks like, fans are in for a treat. According to Salazar, Lee Whannell's The Wolfman is a pulse-pounding, super-fun take on classic werewolf cinema. Less is more in this effective tale of generational guilt. Very different but also complementary to The Invisible Man.

Feeling a little feverish after reading all those unanimous praises? Don't worry, it's (probably) just hype. "Wolf Man" hits theaters on January 17, 2025.