A New York City cop and an expert criminologist trying to solve a series of grisly deaths in which the victims have seemingly been maimed by feral animals discover a sinister connection between the crimes and an old legend.
Cinematography
Infrared thermal vision shots that invented a whole aesthetic.
Direction
Wadleigh's only fiction film—Woodstock doc skills meet horror.
Sound
Heartbeat sound design and James Horner's debut score.
Director
Michael Wadleigh
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Wadleigh spent so long editing that Orion threatened to fire him; the studio recut it without him for release.
The 'Wolfen' themselves are never called werewolves in-film—the screenplay treats them as a separate, ancient species, a choice that tanked marketing but makes the movie weirdly singular.
US
