Wolf (film)

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Wolf
Theatrical release poster.
Directed by	Mike Nichols
Produced by	Douglas Wick
Written by	Jim Harrison Wesley Strick
Starring	Jack Nicholson Michelle Pfeiffer
Music by	Ennio Morricone
Cinematography	Giuseppe Rotunno
Editing by	Sam O'Steen
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	1994
Running time	125 min
Country	USA
Language	English
Budget	$70,000,000
IMDb profile

Wolf is a 1994 horror film directed by Mike Nichols and starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader and Kate Nelligan. It was co-written by Jim Harrison and Wesley Strick and won a Saturn Award for their screenplay.

Tagline: The animal is out.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Will Randall (Nicholson), a mild-mannered, middle-aged publishing editor, is fired from his job by a wealthy business tycoon who takes over his publishing house and replaces him with Randall's own protege (Spader), who also happens to be having an affair with Randall's wife. However, a few days earlier, Randall was bitten by what he believes to be a wolf while driving on a snowy country road one night; he soon starts feeling rejuvenated, revitalized, and more aggressive and becomes more assertive in fighting for his job back.

With the help of a brash no-nonsense woman (Pfeiffer) he sets out for the new life ahead of him. He inadvertently bites his young nemesis, who becomes a wolf as well, who ends up raping and murdering Will's wife, in an attempt to frame Randall so as to seize back Randall's job at the publishing house.

Randall's nemesis, Stuwart, then goes after Will's lover, Laura. After a brief struggle, she is nearly raped, but Will shows up, and, in werewolf form (same as his foe), they battle to the death. Our young antagonist is soon shot to death. Randall becomes a wolf completely. Laura's passion allows her to join him in his new life.

[edit] Production & Reaction

The film was initially delayed for six to eight months due to poor critical reaction to the third act. After reshoots, however, critics thought the ending was more satisfying and thrilling. It was mostly well-received and currently holds positive reviews among 64% of critics as displayed by RottenTomatoes.com. The film grossed $65,012,000 domestically and $131,002,597 worldwide, while making another $34,000,000 on US rentals.[1]