Main Cast: Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader, Kate Nelligan, Richard Jenkins, Christopher Plummer
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 125 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Jack Nicholson becomes a werewolf in this bizarre comedy-horror film directed by Mike Nichols. Nicholson plays Will Randall, a book editor with a testosterone deficit who has just been sacked at his publishing firm by a new boss, Raymond Alden (Christopher Plummer). A colleague, Stewart Swinton (James Spader), whom Randall thought was his friend, betrays him. Randall's personality changes after he hits a wolf with his car and gets bitten by the creature. He immediately feels more powerful, has heightened hearing and vision, and sets about to right the wrongs in his life. He visits Alden at the publisher's mansion to protest his dismissal, and he is asked to leave -- but Alden's daughter Laura (Michelle Pfeiffer) asks him to stay for lunch. Laura loves to defy her father. Will tells her about the wolf bite, and she becomes attracted to him. But because werewolves usually kill the ones they love, Laura is in danger. Will reasserts his place in the publishing world, supported by his loyal secretary Mary (Eileen Atkins), and his relationship with Laura deepens. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Review
Mike Nichols' version of the Jim Harrison novel is a witty, intelligent, and beautifully made film that doesn't quite come off. Jack Nicholson stars as a book editor who begins to display strangely lupine characteristics after being bitten by a wolf. With renewed aggression, he begins to go after the hypocritical yuppie James Spader who had recently ousted him from his job. For about the first hour the movie is slyly entertaining, with its caustic dissection of the Darwinian nature of office politics, and Nicholson's growing awareness that his slow transformation into a wolf can have its advantages. At this point the changes are slight enough that the satiric tone remains grounded in reality. As the film progresses, though, moving closer to the realm of the traditional horror movie's myth and fantasy trappings, relationships become more unbelievable and it's more difficult to know what the filmmakers are trying to say. Nicholson, who seems to be loving every minute, gives a superbly modulated performance as the wronged editor, and Spader is excellent as his unctuously backstabbing nemesis. Michelle Pfeiffer, however, is hamstrung by a character that seems hollow and underwritten. Although the film leaves one with a sense of vague dissatisfaction, there is still much here to enjoy. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
Eileen Atkins - Mary; David Hyde Pierce - Roy; Om Puri - Dr. Vijay Alezias; Ron Rifkin - Doctor; Prunella Scales - Maude; Christopher Birt - Cop; Lia Chang - Desk Clerk; Starletta DuPois - Victim's Mother; Thomas F. Duffy - Tom; Bradford English - Keyes; Irene Forrest - Office Worker; Madhur Jaffrey - Party Guest; Brian Markinson - Detective Wade; Dwayne McClary - Gang Member; Kirby Mitchell - Party Guest; Jennifer Nicholson - Office Worker; Cynthia O'Neal - Party Guest; Eva Rodriguez - Maid; Stewart J. Zully - Gary; Lisa Emery - Party Guest; Jose Soto - Gang Member; Juliet Taylor; Ellen Lewis; Allison Janney - Party Guest; David Schwimmer - Cop; Peter Gerety - George; Joanna Sanchez - Receptionist; Oz Perkins - Cop
Credit
Thomas A. Duffield - Art Director, Thomas Warren - Art Director, Jim Harrison - Associate Producer, Michele Imperato - Associate Producer, Juliet Taylor - Casting, Ellen Lewis - Casting, Ann Roth - Costume Designer, Michael Haley - First Assistant Director, Mike Nichols - Director, Sam O'Steen - Editor, Robert Greenhut - Executive Producer, Neil Machlis - Executive Producer, Ennio Morricone - Composer (Music Score), Danny Michael - Musical Direction/Supervision, Art Rochester - Musical Direction/Supervision, Ronnie Spector - Makeup, Stephen Abrums - Makeup, Rick Baker - Makeup Special Effects, Robert W. Welch III - Production Designer, Giuseppe Rotunno - Cinematographer, Doug Wick - Producer, Susan Bode-Tyson - Set Designer, Linda de Scenna - Set Designer, Sean Haworth - Set Designer, Jacques Valin - Set Designer, Alec Gillis - Special Effects, Tom Woodruff, Jr. - Special Effects, Jim Harrison - Screenwriter, Wesley Strick - Screenwriter, Al Laverde - Key Grip, David Lowery - Storyboard Artist
