Wolf Man and Hollywood's Quest to Make Monsters Relevant Again

Dracula. The Frankenstein Monster. The Invisible Man. The Mummy. And let's not overlook the Wolf Man. These iconic figures of horror have evolved and transformed over the years, continually captivating and terrifying audiences across generations. Just recently, we saw a fresh take on Dracula in the form of Nosferatu by Robert Eggers, while Guillermo del Toro is putting his spin on Frankenstein, and now, Leigh Whannell is bringing us his vision of the Wolf Man.

But how does a filmmaker like Whannell engage modern audiences with yet another werewolf film, particularly one focused on the Wolf Man? More broadly, how do these filmmakers, as Whannell puts it, breathe new life into these classic monsters, making them both terrifying and relevant once again?

To find out, arm yourself with torches, wolfsbane, and stakes—and a keen eye for the metaphors within these monster narratives. We sat down with Whannell to discuss the impact of classic monster movies on his filmmaking, how to rejuvenate beloved characters like the Wolf Man in 2025, and why these tales remain essential.