Wolfen (1981)
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73% of critics liked it
(22 reviews) -
44% of users liked it
(5,137 ratings)
Wolfen, a frightening horror movie based upon a novel by Whitley Strieber, concerns Detective Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney), who gets assigned to investigate the strange murder of a millionaire and his wife in a downtown park. Wilson and his friend, city coroner Whittington (Gregory Hines), aided by… More Wolfen, a frightening horror movie based upon a novel by Whitley Strieber, concerns Detective Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney), who gets assigned to investigate the strange murder of a millionaire and his wife in a downtown park. Wilson and his friend, city coroner Whittington (Gregory Hines), aided by criminal psychologist Rebecca Neff (Diane Venora) connect the killing to those of several others, primarily winos, drug addicts and derelicts, all of whom seem to have been mutilated by wild animals. Their search leads them to a group of Native Americans led by Edward James Olmos who tell them of a legend of a superior species that once roamed the area, but now are living and hunting in the slums of New York. The film is engrossing, frightening and intelligent, with sensational special effects. Director Michael Wadleigh uses these effects to great advantage, frequently showing the movements of the characters through the eyes of the "Wolfen." This film is also the screen debut of Hines. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Directed By
- Michael Wadleigh
- Written By
- David Eyre, Whitley Strieber
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Horror
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1981 Wide
- Studio
- Orion
Critic Reviews
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Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
The often muddled, but scary Wolfen tops The Howling and An American Werewolf in London as the best of 1981's three worthwhile lupine thrillers.
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Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
Some sort of mixed-up commentary on gentrification.
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Wolfen is a thriller with a metaphysical side to it.
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Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
'Sucken.'
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MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
Half silly and half profound.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Albert Finney
as Dewey Wilson
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Diane Venora
as Rebecca Neff
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Edward James Olmos
as Eddie Holt
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Gregory Hines
as Whittington
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Tom Noonan
as Ferguson
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Dick O'Neill
as Warren
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Dehl Berti
as Old Indian
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Peter Michael Goetz
as Ross
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Frank Adonis
as Scola
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Victor Arnold
as Roundenbush
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Ralph Bell
as Commissioner
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Roy Brocksmith
as Fat Jogger in Park
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Max M. Brown
as Christopher Vanderveer
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Corey Burton
as ESS Voices
- Burr De Benning
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E. Brian Dean
as Fouchek
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Sarah Felder
as Cicely Rensselaer
- Linda Gary
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Sam Gray
as Mayor
- Charles Howerton
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Reginald VelJohnson
as Morgue Attendant
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John McCurry
as Sayad Alve
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Richard Minchenberg
as Policeman
- Robert Moberly
- Caitlin O'Heaney
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Anne Marie Photamo
as Pauline Vanderveer
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Tommy Ryan
as Detective
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Ray Serra
as Detective
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Donald Symington
as Lawyer
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Rino Thunder
as Native American
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James Tolkan
as Baldy
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Jery Hewitt
as Victim
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Michael Wadleigh
as Terrorist Informer
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Tom Waits
as Song Performer - Jitterbug Boy
- Mel Welles
- Annie Gagen
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Jeff Ware
as Interrogation Operator
- Robert Louis King
- Dan Sturkle
- Cullen Oliver Johnson
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David Connell
as Victim
