Wolf Man director Leigh Whannell has revealed just how much werewolf lore will be explained in the horror movie, and how to expect it to be unearthed. The upcoming Wolf Man movie will take the concept into a tragically horrifying direction, with father and husband Blake (Christopher Abbott) slowly transforming into a werewolf after he and his family are attacked. While his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), and daughter, Ginger (Matilda Firth), try to escape the farmhouse they find themselves trapped in, Blake slowly morphs into the тιтular creature, giving him new abilities in the process.

Speaking with GamesRadar, Whannell revealed Wolf Man isn’t going to directly explain much of the werewolf lore that’s presented in the movie. Comparing the film to the surrealist works of David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive), the director explained how there won’t be a moment where all the answers are revealed, instead allowing some interpretation. However, he did clarify it will be straightforward, albeit not thoroughly explained. Check out what Whannell had to say below:

I didn’t want that scene where they discover a dusty book in the basement like, ‘Here’s the rules.’ The library montage, you might call it… where you figure everything out.

Exposition is such a tricky thing to handle, and how much you want to explain to people. A lot of times you might do a test screening and people tell you they want more, but my personal preference is to keep things more mysterious. I love the films of David Lynch, they’re like these puzzle boxes and he deliberately avoids explanations. I find that makes the film stay with me, because nothing was spoon fed. I can walk away and live with the movie, and interpret it, then I’ll get online. I’m like anyone else, I’ve googled ‘What does Mulholland Drive mean?’ I’m seeking an answer, and I think that’s what he wants with his movies. I’m not saying these are David Lynch movies that I’m making, but I like being sparing with that stuff.

What Whannell’s Explanation Means For Wolf Man’s Werewolf Lore

Its Sparing Use Will Require Some Interpretation

Much of the movie seems like it will focus on the cast of Wolf Man watching as Blake slowly transforms, needing to escape from his newly-acquired animal instincts. Teasers for the movie have also showcased some elements of his transformation, though they indicate he’ll be slowly morphing into an even more inhuman monster as the movie progresses. So far, Abbott’s character appears to have been infected by the scratch, but this is the only explanation any of the promotional material has offered so far about werewolf lore.

Whannell’s explanation makes sense given the film’s focus, which will be on how Charlotte and Ginger try to escape from Blake as he changes. This doesn’t entirely lend itself to giving easy answers about werewolves, instead focusing its attention on the monster movie and family elements. However, Wolf Man‘s theatrical release can still offer pieces of information that can be put together, resulting in an off-screen explanation audiences can interpret. Even if it’s not direct in explaining how werewolf infections and transformations work, the movie can still touch on those elements without making them too central.

Our Take On Whannell’s Approach To Werewolf Lore In Wolf Man

The Movie Will Benefit From A Minimalist Approach

By making the werewolf lore in Wolf Man a smaller part of the overarching story, Whannell manages to ensure it doesn’t pull attention away from the focus on Blake and his family. Instead, the minimalist approach to the lore, hinting at explanations, can work to the movie’s benefit, making it all the more terrifying because there’s no straightforward answers. With the film arriving later this week, it won’t be long before the exact nature of how he approaches the lore will be revealed.

Wolf Man arrives in theaters on January 17, 2025.

Source: GamesRadar