Wolfen

Wolfen has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in the US on Hoopla. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Albert Finney's performance alone is worth the time investment. Put it on tonight on Hoopla and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Wolfen is worth clearing space for. The plotting in Wolfen is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. 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. Albert Finney and Diane Venora lead a cast that gives the tension real weight. It hit screens in 1981. Wolfen is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Wolfen will keep you hooked. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Albert Finney's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.