Over ten years ago, Universal Studios rolled out a reboot of their Universal Monsters and called it the Dark Universe. In , they released the first film in this Universe, The Mummy starring Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible franchise). Unfortunately, the film was a critical and box office disappointment, and the powers that be decided to reconfigure the Dark Universe into individual movies instead. Over the past seven and a half years, they have released 6 films in total - some to moderate success, some to less-than-stellar results. The latest movie in this collective group, Wolf Man, hit theaters in and two months later it is being released on 4K.
Blake Lovell (Christopher Abbott; Poor Things) grew up in the remote mountains of Oregon, where rumors abounded of people "disappearing" from a strange virus. Now in his mid-thirties, Blake lives in San Francisco with his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner; Ozark), and his daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth; Subservience). One day a package arrives for Blake with keys to his childhood home and a death certificate for his estranged father, who went missing in the woods several years before. Wanting to try to reconnect with Charlotte, Blake suggests they all take an extended vacation to Oregon, but once arriving at his home, Blake and Charlotte soon discover "something" unnatural lurking in the woods.
The technical aspects of this 4K combo pack are great, giving the look and sound of the film a polished tone. The 2160p resolution with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio gives the whole movie sharp focus but is really helpful during the darker scenes that take place at night. The visual of the creature is beautifully detailed from the claws to the overgrown body hair. The few shots of the valley below the Oregon home are breathtaking, and the intense color hues are highlighted in those moments.
The Dolby Atmos audio is exceptional with ambient sounds, whether it be the hustle and bustle of the city or the natural sounds of the forest that surrounds the Lovells. The guttural cries of the creature are layered, giving it a deep and strong growl. The haunting soundtrack sits low and resonates, coming from speakers situated all around the room.
The combo pack includes the 4K and Blu-ray discs, a digital download, and five informative extras. The extras include Unleashing a New Monster, Designing Wolf Man, Hands-on Horror, Nightmares and Soundscapes, and Feature Commentary with Director/Co-writer Leigh Whannell.
Overall, the Dark Universe hasn't had any standout box office successes, but a few of the films have done decently well with The Invisible Man earning the most worldwide. Much of that success had to do with Whannell, and I'm sure Universal Pictures was hoping he could create magic again with Wolf Man. While the premise isn't bad and the practical effects are excellent, the movie simply doesn't completely hit its mark and I found the ending to be more sad and depressing than scary.
Grade: C+
