It's New Movie Monday on the Messed Up Movies Podcast, claws came out, fur flew, and opinions howled into the night as we tackled Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man (2025). This episode featured our own dynamic duo, Heath (defender of beasts) and Griffey (slayer of nonsense), joined by special guest Sophia Spiegel (unofficial referee, card-carrying Julia Garner fan). What unfolded was less a structured debate and more a verbal full moon transformation — chaotic, dramatic, and gloriously messy.
Here are the highlights (and lowlights) of the debate.
Opening Salvo: Setting the Wolf Trap
Griffey wasted no time laying out his case:
“Why remake The Wolf Man if you’re not interested in doing a Wolf Man movie?”
Heath, wearing his own metaphorical fur, retorted with a growl:
“It’s not about the wolf, it’s about the man. It’s not a werewolf movie; it’s a wolf man movie.”
Cue Sophia, stepping into the fray with a smirk:
“So we’re debating a bald man with sharp teeth? Fascinating.”
The tone was set, and it only got hairier from there.
Team Practical Effects vs. “That’s It?”
Sophia’s biggest gripe: the much-hyped practical effects.
“If you’re remaking a Universal monster movie, I want the monster to be the star. Give me claws, fur, gore… not a balding accountant with dental issues!”
Griffey doubled down:
“How do you make a Wolf Man movie with no memorable transformation? That’s like making Ghostbusters without ghosts!”
Heath remained steadfast:
“The gradual transformation was intentional. It’s about the loss of self, not the Hollywood money shot.”
But the jury remained skeptical. (And by jury, we mean Griffey and Sophia, who were ready to hand out fines for false advertising.)
Generational Trauma or Generic Drama?
One theme everyone begrudgingly agreed on: the film’s exploration of generational trauma. Christopher Abbott’s tragic journey from a traumatized son to an accidental monster resonated with Heath:
“He sacrifices himself to end the cycle. It’s deeply human and devastating.”
Griffey countered with a howl of frustration:
“That cycle ended with me wanting to cycle out of the theater. No stakes, no arcs, just a lot of staring into the Oregon wilderness like it’s a therapy retreat.”
Sophia, ever the wildcard, proposed a shocking twist:
“Kill the kid. End the generational trauma permanently. That would have been bold.”

Final Howl: The Verdict
In the end, this debate left us with more questions than answers. Was The Wolf Man (2025) a misunderstood masterpiece of arthouse horror? Or a hairy misstep in Universal’s attempts to resurrect their monster pantheon? Heath called it “mature horror”; Griffey called it “the most boring movie of 2025”; Sophia just wanted more Julia Garner.
The most messed-up moment? The spider reveal in the closet, a rare consensus on a genuinely unsettling scene. (Though Griffey maintains his most messed-up moment was spending money on the ticket.)
So, dear readers, whose side are you on? Are you Team Heath, defending the introspective beast within? Team Griffey, demanding his monster movies come with actual monsters? Or Team Sophia, advocating for bold moves like offing children and giving Julia Garner more screen time?
Let us know in the comments! (And if you agree with Griffey, he promises to wear a werewolf mask to the next episode.)
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