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

Dracula. The Frankenstein monster. The Invisible Man. The Mummy. And, of course, the Wolf Man. These classic monsters have evolved and adapted over decades, transcending singular interpretations while consistently terrifying audiences across generations. We've recently seen a new Dracula in Nosferatu form from Robert Eggers, Guillermo del Toro is crafting a new Frankenstein, and now writer-director Leigh Whannell offers his vision of the Wolf Man.

But how does a filmmaker like Whannell make modern audiences connect with yet another werewolf movie, specifically one centered on the Wolf Man? More broadly, how do any filmmakers, as Whannell notes, make these classic monsters frightening and resonant today?

Gather your torches, prepare your wolfsbane, sharpen your stakes—and hone your ability to interpret the metaphorical depths of monster stories—because we spoke with Whannell about the impact of classic monster movies on his work, his approach to reviving beloved creatures like the Wolf Man in 2025, and why you should care.