Directed by Michael Wadleigh, Wolfen is a chilling journey through the cold, garbage-strewn streets of early-80s New York City.
The film begins with disillusioned former New York homicide detective Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney) being brought back into the force to investigate the gruesome murder of wealthy property magnate Christopher van der Veer (Max M. Brown), his wife (Anne Marie Pohtamo) and their chauffeur/bodyguard.
Left-wing radicals are suspected initially, but when a homeless junkie and a construction worker are slaughtered in a similar style, he begins to suspect that the killings may be connected to a supernatural force.
Finney is suitably gruff and grizzled as Dewey, a burned-out protagonist disillusioned by life in New York and not ready to accept the existence of an ancient power. Virtuoso Broadway dancer Gregory Hines also appears in an unusual role as a hip-talking morgue attendant, and cult star Edward James Olmos appears as Eddie Holt, one of the Native American construction workers who have a mysterious connection to the killings.
Diane Venora makes a warm screen debut as Rebecca Neff, an attractive criminal psychologist who specialises in terrorism.
Newcomer Tom Noonan is also memorable as an animal behaviour specialist working in a New York zoo, who helps Dewey determine what has happened to all the poor, chewed-up victims.
The use of infrared photography to simulate the wolf’s super-sensitive point of view is innovative and would later be utilised by better-known films such as Predator(1987).
The film was shot on location, highlighting just how derelict and decayed New York had become by the early 80s.
Dewey Wilson
Albert Finney Rebecca Neff
Diane Venora Eddie Holt
Edward James Olmos Whittington
Gregory Hines Ferguson
Tom Noonan Warren
Dick O’Neill Old Indian
Dehl Berti Ross
Peter Michael Goetz Mayor
Sam Gray Commissioner
Ralph Bell Christopher van der Veer
Max M. Brown Pauline van der Veer
Anne Marie Pohtamo Cicely Rensselaer
Sarah Felder Morgue Attendant
Reginald Vel Johnson Baldy
James Tolkan Sayad Alve
John McCurry Janitor
Chris Manor Lawyer
Donald Symington Fouchek
E. Brian Dean Harrison
Jeffery Thompson Roundenbush
Victor Arnold Scola
Frank Adonis
The film begins with disillusioned former New York homicide detective Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney) being brought back into the force to investigate the gruesome murder of wealthy property magnate Christopher van der Veer (Max M. Brown), his wife (Anne Marie Pohtamo) and their chauffeur/bodyguard.
Diane Venora makes a warm screen debut as Rebecca Neff, an attractive criminal psychologist who specialises in terrorism.
