The Wolfman

Although far better than its troubled history lead one to fear, this gory, gothic take on the classic lycanthropic love story has had its romantic heart ripped out. Returning to his estranged father's crumbling pile in 1891 - to investigate his brother's disappearance - actor Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) falls for his dead sibling's mourning fiancée, Gwen (Emily Blunt). But before this spark of love can ignite, Lawrence is bitten by the lunar-tic creature the locals fear, and must confront the beast buried within himself. With its mist-shrouded sets, gruesome slaughter and copious CGI, this is a surprisingly respectful updating of the 1941 Universal original. Thanks to Rick Baker's make-up effects, Del Toro's transformations from handsome lover to hairy, howling beast are frighteningly convincing; Anthony Hopkins is restrained as his emotionally detached father; and a cruelly underused Blunt is all-a-quiver as the beautiful, bereaved Gwen. Ultimately, though, neither Joe Johnston's efficient direction nor Danny Elfman's hard-working score can lift the familiar storyline out of the ordinary. Nigel Floyd