Christopher Abbott discusses finding the humanity in Wolf Man in this interview. PLUS you won’t believe what the blood and bone were made of.
Wolf Man follows Blake (Christopher Abbott) after he inherits his father’s cabin in the woods. His father is missing and assumed dead. When Blake and his family arrive, however, an animal attack drastically changes the course of events.
In this interview, Christopher Abbott discusses the importance of finding humanity within the monstrous transformation in Wolf Man. He explores the gradual descent and the emotional impact it has on the character, while also discussing the innovative “wolf vision” filming techniques and the unique experience he hopes audiences will have with the film.
The Unique Wolf Man Design Intrigued Christopher Abbott
Tessa Smith: What was it about Wolf Man that drew you to the project?
Christopher Abbott: A few things. I mean, I’d seen Leigh’s movies before, and I was excited by that. I think he does, just visually, he just does really cool things. And the script. Then I think the final thing was Leigh showing me the design that Arjen Tuiten did for the wolf man character. I just thought there’s something so tragic about the look of the character. So I was like, ah, that feels that feels cool, that feels right and unique.
Tessa Smith: This movie is emotional and sad, but also scary. What do you hope audiences experience with it?
Christopher Abbott: Well, I think exactly that. I think it should be fun. It’s definitely a horror movie. Jump scares and all those bells and whistles, but there’s still some tragedy in there. I think that I’m drawn to that. I think a lot of actors probably are, but to have the fun, but then still have something linger, something stay with you. There’s some heart in there too. So I think if you have the fun and get that when you leave, then that’d be perfect.
What The Blood & Bone Is Made Of Will Shock You…
Tessa Smith: There’s some gnawing on body parts in this, what is it that you are gnawing on?
Christopher Abbott: There’s a lot of sugar in that blood stuff. There’s one scene, I don’t know if it’s a spoiler, whatever, but I’m gnawing on my leg and it was gross, but it was kind of delicious. The blood is sugar, and I think, I swear to God, I think the bone part was like white chocolate, or something with white chocolate on it.
Tessa Smith: I love how it is slow transformation from man to werewolf.
Christopher Abbott: I think it’s fun to watch. I think it’s fun to watch the stages and that and progressions. It’s a little game to play. Like, how much human he is? How much animal he is? There are little subtle things there that are fun to track.
Be sure to watch our full interview with Christopher Abbott to learn more about the werewolf transformation and behind-the-scenes secrets from Wolf Man.
About Wolf Man
Golden Globe nominee Christopher Abbott (Poor Things, It Comes at Night) stars as Blake, a San Francisco husband and father, who inherits his remote childhood home in rural Oregon after his own father vanishes and is presumed dead.
With his marriage to his high-powered wife, Charlotte (Emmy winner Julia Garner; Ozark, Inventing Anna), fraying, Blake persuades Charlotte to take a break from the city and visit the property with their young daughter, Ginger (Matlida Firth; Hullraisers, Coma).
But as the family approaches the farmhouse in the dead of night, they’re attacked by an unseen animal and, in a desperate escape, barricade themselves inside the home as the creature prowls the perimeter.
As the night stretches on, however, Blake begins to behave strangely, transforming into something unrecognizable, and Charlotte will be forced to decide whether the terror within their house is more lethal than the danger without.
Wolf Man comes to theaters on January 17th.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.