How Wolf Man was inspired by the saddest horror movie ever

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Leigh Whannell’s “Wolf Man” draws inspiration not only from the 1941 Universal classic but also from one of the saddest horror movies in the genre’s history.

In his first directorial venture, Leigh Whannell brought the chilling ghost tale, Insidious: Chapter 3, to life. Subsequently, he demonstrated exceptional skill with the captivating blend of science fiction and action in the film, Upgrade.

Ever since then, Whannell has delved into Universal’s treasure trove, reinventing The Invisible Man as a gripping narrative about psychological manipulation and domestic strife, and scoring a significant box office success along the way.

Currently, he’s delved into the story of The Wolf Man, featuring a three-part narrative where a man experiences a chilling run-in with a wolf in the forest. Subsequently, this event causes him to become increasingly aggressive towards his spouse and child, resulting in both horrifying and heartrending scenes.

The Fly influenced Wolf Man’s saddest scenes

The movie revolves around a character struggling with relinquishing command and battling primal, beast-like instincts. This narrative bears a resemblance to David Cronenberg’s classic horror film “The Fly,” often recognized as one of the greatest horror movies ever made, also embodying a profound romantic tragedy.

I wondered if Leigh Whannell was thinking about a specific film while collaborating with Corbett Tuck on the script, and he confirmed that they both admire it deeply. In fact, it’s one of his favorite horror films ever! Given their shared affection for “The Fly,” it’s likely that they discussed it in previous conversations.

What intrigues me about The Fly and what keeps it relevant today is that it doesn’t rely on graphic effects just to elicit disgust. Instead, it aims to deliver a serious message, while films like Re-Animator intentionally use such effects for comedic effect, and Evil Dead 2 does the same.

However, the Fly approached the practical effects with genuine dedication, and while observing them, one must tread carefully as they could inadvertently find themselves chuckling at such elements.

In The Fly, he didn’t want to do that, and I really appreciated that choice. It served as a guiding light while working on the movie. I’m glad you found it both sad and scary, because that was the emotional tone I aimed for in the film during its creation. That’s the mood I was in when writing the script, and that’s what I wanted to convey.

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2025-01-13 15:56