The 2025 movie calendar is off to a slow start, with many late 2024 releases still dominating the box office. Leigh Whannell’s horror film Wolf Man hopes to join Den of Thieves 2: Pantera at the top of the weekend’s box office when it opens on January 17th, but judging by the mixed reviews from critics, it’s unclear how likely that’ll be.

For better, there's been 2020's The Invisible Man, in which writer/director Leigh Whannell left his supernatural leanings from the Insidious franchise behind for a more sci-fi-rooted horror. His Wolf Man has a similarly grim and grounded approach,

For the entirety of Leigh Whannell's screenwriting career, the horror veteran has shown the gift of being able to make audiences cower in terror inside a darkened movie theater, and then, come back for more.

Bad reviews for Wolf Man shouldn't affect its opening weekend prospects, which currently have it taking the top spot with $20 million plus. If audiences feel the same way as critics, however, this wolf won't go the distance and will be lucky to get past $40 million domestically.

Leigh Whannell tempers the scares in Wolf Man, but ups the family melodrama, offering a tragedy in the classic Universal Monster tradition.

Leigh Whannell's 'Wolf Man' is a thrilling experience that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Read the full review on Dread Central.