The following contains spoilers for Wolf Man, now playing in theatersWolf Man offers a new take on the classic werewolf archetype, with some unique tweaks to the legendary monster. Across many stories throughout the history of film, the popular conception of werewolves has been shaped by some typically standard tropes. Some of these elements are seen in Wolf Man, which focuses on a man struggling with a werewolf infection that steadily transforms him from his family’s protector to the greatest threat to them. At the very core of the story, this new werewolf is similar to previous iterations of the concept. However, the 2025 film also makes some notable tweaks.
Many aspects of the werewolf are altered by the film’s focus on the spread of the transformation as the product of an infection rather than a curse. This ends up having a domino effect on the way the werewolf is portrayed by the ending of Wolf Man, including how the rules of the transformation work. This also impacts the overall abilities and weaknesses of the modern werewolf, as some classic aspects of werewolf lore remain mysterious or overtly ignored in the new film. These are the established rules and lingering mysteries about Wolf Man and how it compares to other werewolf movies.
The Origin Of The Werewolf Curse In 2025’s Wolf Man & How It Pᴀsses
How Werewolves Spread In Wolf Man Differs From Many Other Stories
While the origins of the werewolf curse in 2025’s Wolf Man remains a mystery, the movie does reflect the classic methods of spreading the disease. Wolf Man is the latest film to showcase a version of the classic werewolf transformation, in which a person is infected and transformed into a monstrous animal/human hybrid by someone else already transformed into the monstrous state. In many iterations of werewolf stories, this is caused by a supernatural curse, as was the case in previous versions of the story. While it’s possible that Wolf Man follows similar rules, this is never overtly confirmed.
There are no overt supernatural elements at play in Wolf Man, which instead leaves the origins of the curse a mystery. While others have been infected before (to the point where the affliction is known as Face of the Wolf by locals), the film doesn’t make it clear if it is actually a curse. While this element is different, the primary means of infection remain the same. While previous versions of Wolf Man saw the main character bitten to receive the infection, Blake is scratched by the creature in Wolf Man, which proves to be enough to spread the transformation.
The Wolf Man’s Powers, Explained
Wolf Man Gives Werewolves Some Distinct Abilities
As he transforms into a more animalistic state, Blake develops a number of abilities and powers. The more notable physical ones take much of the night to fully develop, such as his fingers extending into claws and his teeth falling out to be replaced with fangs. His body shifts and seemingly becomes stronger and more durable. As the transformation sets into place, Blake is able to withstand far more punishment than a regular person would, even biting off his own foot when it gets caught in a bear trap and quickly resuming a chase on all fours with little delay.
However, this new perception seemingly comes at the cost of his ability to communicate, as Blake soon struggles to speak clearly.
Blake also develops a new enhanced set of senses as his transformation steadily progresses. His sense of hearing becomes acute enough that Blake can hear a spider crawling on a wall on the floor above him, and he gains the ability to see more clearly in the night. However, this new perception seemingly comes at the cost of his ability to communicate, as Blake soon struggles to speak clearly. He also can no longer perceive human communication as easily, with a subtle shift to his perspective highlighting how his family’s words of comfort are lost on him as he transforms.
Wolf Man’s Weaknesses, Explained
The Werewolf Of Wolf Man Is Far Weaker Than Other Versions Of Werewolves
In most iterations of the werewolf story, the creature is highly dangerous for many reasons. However, perhaps the most frightening aspect of many kinds of werewolves is the way they can withstand almost all forms of physical pain and punishment without permanent repercussions. In 1941’s The Wolf Man and 2010’s The Wolfman, silver is revealed to be a key way to bring down a werewolf. While it’s possible that two werewolves could kill one another in combat (as seen in the climax of the 2010 film), silver is presented as a permanent means of dispatching the werewolf without enhanced abilities.
Wolf Man Director Leigh Whannell has spoken about how important it was to him to not spend too much time delving into the lore behind the werewolves, including the established weaknesses of the creature.
By contrast, Wolf Man makes the creature significantly easier to put down by conventional methods. While Blake’s father Grady is killed by getting his throat ripped out, Blake is ultimately brought down by a single gun sH๏τ to the chest. Although he allows himself to be sH๏τ in the first place, the fact that a single regular bullet is able to stop him is a far cry from many versions of the werewolf story. It’s one of the many ways Wolf Man shifts things while making the werewolf transformation more akin to an infectious disease rather than a supernatural curse.
How Wolf Man’s Werewolves Compare To Other Movies
Wolf Man‘s Version Of Werewolf Is Very Different From Other Incarnations Of The Concept
The тιтular Wolf Man of the 2025 film is a very different creature than many other versions of the character. While Blake does steadily transform into a monstrous form while losing control of himself in the process, he retains enough of his humanity that he can allow himself to be killed to save his family. Other iterations of werewolves lack that ability, leading them to become complete monsters. The transformation is also less overtly animalistic, as other werewolves (as seen in films like An American Werewolf in London or Ginger Snaps) clearly become wolf like in their fully transformed state.
By comparison, Blake’s full transformation still retains a number of humanoid attributes, even while growing claws or having his skeleton shift beneath his skin. Blake also seems to be fully transformed by the end of the film and unable to be restored, as opposed to other versions of werewolves who revert to human form once the dawn rises. Blake instead shows no sign of being becoming human again, leading directly to his willing demise. Wolf Man makes some interesting tweaks to werewolf lore, all in the name of creating a version of the creature that feels more harrowing and realistic.
