The Wolfman

The Wolfman is a novelization of a film that was released on 2010. This is actually the first movie novelization I've ever read, and I admit I was expecting the worst, but I ended up really liking it in the end. It's a fairly traditional werewolf tale, in which a small town in England (Blackmoor) is being terrorized by horrific, brutal crimes. Lawrence Talbot is contacted when his brother becomes a victim, he must return to his ancestral home, where he swears to find out who murdered his brother. Naturally, it's not at all what he expects.

I'm not a movie guy, and though I'm pretty sure I've seen the movie I don't remember much about it, so I can't really compare the book to the film. I can say that, as a standalone novel, it's enjoyable show more if you are willing to turn your brain off. I say that because there were a couple of times the author had me scratching my head over a weird or unrealistic passage. For example, at the very beginning of the book, on page 2 or 3, a man is walking through a forest with a lantern. He hears a noise, and pulls out a knife, but he is described as holding the knife behind his back so it doesn't catch the light of his lantern and expose him. It's almost a smart move, except for the fact that he's already holding a lantern that is a beacon to his position. Obviously the reflection isn't going to be as bright as the lantern itself.

Little things like that were annoying, but I liked the overall story and I appreciated the traditional take on werewolves. It's funny how hard it is to find that in werewolf novels published in the last 20-30 years. Vampires and werewolves are more popular than ever, but there is always a twist, right? "A new and unique werewolf story." Of course, they are all new and unique in the same ways, so there really isn't anything new or unique about them. Nevertheless, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find books like this, and while I normally embrace and support the evolution of classic myths, it's nice to find something that isn't urban fantasy or paranormal romance. show less

Leave it to Jonathan Maberry to write a movie novelization that results in a satisfying read, with more atmospheric chills and thrills than its film counterpart.

An evidently uneven script is nonetheless well novelized by author Maberry with a flair for high Gothic romanticism. The central tragic hero of Lawrence Talbot is saddled with a back story and emotional life worthy of something written by Shelly. Sent to an asylum following his beloved mother's death, Talbot returns home to find his brother brutally murdered and his father is still the cold-hearted bastard he remembers. To make matter worse, Talbot begins to lust/love his brother's fiancee, Gwen. Unlikely as the relationship between Talbot and the Gwen would be, it does echo a similar development in the original Wolf Man film (to which Curt Sidomak's screenplay gets a credit on the novel's cover) and Guy Endore's Werewolf of Paris. As show more one is to assume that the original story is not the author's, I'll not lay blame on him for the novel's story problems and simply give him credit for playing up the high emotions of Talbot to lend the whole book a fevered dream-like quality. The characterization of Talbot is the driving force of the novel and Maberry delivers on conveying the nightmarish state of mind that the tormented Talbot endures throughout. Kudos also go to his vivid descriptions of the moon as the 'Goddess of the Hunt' , almost a character herself. Only the decision to differentiate between the father and son Talbots as 'the Werewolf' and 'The Wolfman' in the fiery finale does the novel falter a bit. Also Maberry makes no attempt to explain the fire in Talbot Hall. The novel includes a few additions to the story from the theatrical film; including an odd origin for Lawrence Talbot's cane (who that weird Frenchman is supposed to be, I don't know) and the role of Singh is much more pronounced in the novel then in the movie. All in all, the book stands as an excellent expansion on what happens in the 2010 film and is highly recommended for fans of the film. show less

I'm giving this one 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the movie when it came out, and had heard Maberry's name when looking for new horror authors, so I decided to give this one a try. I'm not usually into movie adaptations because most of the time they don't add anything to what I've already seen. This novel toed that line; it had some alternate scenes, a little bit more backstory to some of the characters, but that was about it. Overall it was fun, but nothing that I would want to pick up again down the road.

I think that the book interpretation was better than the movie. The timing was really good and it felt like the proper medium for the story. Maybe it's just because I like Maberry's work, I don't know.

This book is a million times better than the movie! If you want to enhance your movie going experience, read this novel first!