Benny's beast

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These exclusive EW shots of Rick Baker's Wolfman makeup, worn by Benicio del Toro in the forthcoming Joe Johnston-directed feature, are evidence of a clearly meh sensibility.

Benny's beast is a boilerplate blend of Lon Chaney's Wolfman ('41) and David Naughton's growlin' wolf in John Landis' An American Werewolf in London ('81), which Baker also designed. The appearance is right down the middle, completely safe and has no particular personality whatsover.

Jack Nicholson's Wolf-man in Mike Nichols' 1994 film was more particular, more Jack-like. Covering Benicio in makeup this familiar-looking means he won't be able to act during his wolf episodes. All he'll be doing is run around and howl and so on. Blah.

comment #1

Mr. Blood Vessel says ...

it is joe johnston...

comment #2

storymark says ...

I like that it's visually faithfull to the original.

comment #3

Geoff says ...

I think we have to assume that this is what Romanek's version was shaping up to be. But then again...he left.

I'm not that impressed, I guess I need to see him in action.

comment #4

actionman says ...

I think the make-up is great. We'll see about the film itself.

comment #5

Gordie Lachance says ...

It would be really nice if there were like a little renaissance for make-up and prosthetic-driven horror movies, and get away from CGI for a while.

comment #6

Josh B. says ...

Publicity stills never seem to work for me. They always look 'meh'. I'll hold judgment until I see some moving frames. I personally liked the early "test" photos of Benicio before any makeup was done. He already looks like the wolfman. Just give him some canines and call it done!

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2007/RB-BDT.jpg

comment #7

lazespud says ...

What he looks like is Kelsey Grammar in X-Men 3. Paint him blue and that's who he'd be.

I totally agree with Josh B. You've got to see the movie...

And in general, unless he's the wolfman 90% of the time, it's the acting when he's NOT the wolfman that counts.

comment #8

christian says ...

I think he looks great. And you see more of his face so he can actually ACT. Kinda Oliver Reed in CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF.

comment #9

BurmaShave says ...

WOLFEN is still one of my favorite of these movies ever. It's cheesy as hell in parts but god is it trippy, plus the major influence on PREDATOR and ALIENS.

comment #10

dawgzilla67 says ...

Good call, Burma Shave "I can swim like a fish and I can fuck like a bunny -- I can shape shift with the best of 'em". Makes me want to see the movie again real soon.

But guys, come on, are we really expecting a remake of the Wolf Man to be any good? It will spend damn near three hours telling the same story the original film told in an hour and ten minutes, and the original witll still no doubt be deeper and have paid more attention to psychology. I don't see this being like the John Carpenter take on The Thing or Cronenberg's redux of The Fly.

This has Van Helsing II: Lycanthropic Boogalloo written all over it.

comment #11

TomCodyPleasedtameetcha says ...

"Covering Benicio in makeup this familiar-looking means he won't be able to act during his wolf episodes." Yeah, like John Hurt wasn't able to act during the entirety of The Elephant Man. Geez. Why do people make ridiculous assumptions based on a couple of publicity stills?

comment #12

frankbooth says ...

Wolf was embarassing, especially that Six Million Dollar Man fight scene with Spader.

This looks pretty cool to me. But will the kids accept a non-CGI monster?

comment #13

carla kolchak says ...

Wow, I love that it's such an obviously respectful throwback to Chaney's Wolfman!

However, based on these 2 photos, I can't tell where you see this as a 'blend' of Baker's design for American Werewolf and Chaney's. It doesn't look anything like the beast in American Werewolf. That (also brilliant) design was more wolf than man.

And I'm with frankbooth: Wolf was ridiculous.

comment #14

hiviper says ...

I was always partial to Dante's The Howling myself. The way that muzzle and those ears sprang out was terrifying.

comment #15

lipranzer says ...

I'm wait and see on this movie (although yes, I am dispirited about Joe Johnston being in charge instead of Romanek), and I think Benicio could do something interesting with this role.

WOLF was good when it was a comedy, less so when it was a horror film. To be fair, you'd have expected Jack to chew the scenery, and he was actually pretty restrained.

I love THE HOWLING, hiviper. Arguably Joe Dante's best movie (though GREMLINS 2 is up there as well).

comment #16

PoisonSkin says ...

been so long since Wolf came out. I just remember it was boring and Frasiers brother was in it.

just like batman I'm sure. oh my god! jack nicholson as the wolf man. he's perfect. how can they go wrong

comment #17

hiviper says ...

lipranzer,
I'll have to check Gremlins 2, thanks.
Of course, credit must be given to the great Rob Bottin as well.

comment #18

nemo says ...

Doesn't Benicio del Toro already look enough like the Wolf Man *without* any makeup?

I seem to remember that Spencer Tracey did a version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde using no special makeup at all, and that his transformation was a lot more frightening for the simplicity. Now that would be a radical version of the Wolf Man.

My favorite part of Wolf was Jack Nicholson waking up next to Michelle Pfeiffer, listening to her snore as if it were the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. I'm sure if I woke up next to Michelle Pfeiffer, I'd feel the same way about her snoring.

comment #19

Rich S. says ...

I'm interested to see this take. I always preferred The Howling to American Werewolf. I thought The Howling was much scarier, and, yes, I know American Werewolf was supposed to be a comedy. I also preferred the design of the wolf. But in the end, the Chaney version is better than either of them.

I'm sure they'll use some CGI here to accomplish the transformation, but I hope it's kept to a minimum. Baker admits in the article that it is a direct homage to Lon Chaney, Jr. and the incomparable Jack Pierce. But I'm willing to bet that the transformation will be gradual, with del Toro showing wolflike characteristics before he completely turns.

Whatever, I hope they keep the ending the same.

comment #20

Rich S. says ...

And nemo, Spencer Tracy's Hyde is good, but March's pre-code Hyde blows him out of the water. March's Hyde is truly one of the most despicable and cruel characters ever put on screen. The accolades he earned for it were richly deserved.

comment #21

the king says ...

It's really simple for me ... Romanek gone ... it becomes a pass. Do something!

comment #22

Bocephus says ...

My favorite movie werewolves are the ones from Dog Soldiers. The makeup effects in that movie might not have been up to Rick Baker level, but the framing in all the wolf money shots was so creepy and great.

I liked the reverse-joint legs and the very wolf-like faces.

Benicio's makeup job doesn't impress me too much. He looks like one of those people with the genetic defect that makes hair grow all over their body. And his jaw looks weird. I was excited when Romanek was involved. Now it's a total pass. I don't even think I'll see it on DVD. I'll just rent the Howling or Dog Soldiers again.

comment #23

alan says ...

Rich S. is absolutely right. The Tracy/Bergman version of Jekyll & Hyde is decent, but it's so sanitized compared to the version with March. The sexuality and cruelty is just so much more pronounced. Miriam Hopkins is great in the earlier version as well.

There's a really good double-feature DVD from a couple of years ago that includes both versions and some nice supplementary materials that point out the contrasts. My favorite, and the most telling, difference: Tracy's dead Jekyll is seen in the final shot with a serene, peaceful expression on his face, while the heavenly choir sings on the soundtrack. In the March version, the framing shows you Jekyll's twisted body through the blaze in the fireplace...

comment #24

BurmaShave says ...

Frank Booth, I'll agree the last act really drops the ball, but until then WOLF is a lot of fun and some of Nichols' cleverest work. The interplay between Plummer and Nicholson is genius, and the chemistry with Pfeiffer is plausible and legitimate, despite the age difference. Plus Spader is a hoot. Also Richard Jenkins- "Did she say on her shoe or in her shoe?" or what have you. Not a bad movie.

comment #25

BurmaShave says ...

*he, rather. It's been awhile.

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