+ + + (Dark, ominous, remake)

It's the same old story but with a couple of twists and much better special effects than the original 1941 film. While I found it a bit too familiar (Joyce skipped this one), it may seem new to a younger generation.

Benicio Del Toro plays the Wolfman this time around, and he sure is creepy. So is Anthony Hopkins as his father. Del Toro plays Lawrence Talbot, the prodigal son who leaves the family estate to become an actor, but returns home upon the grizzly death of his brother.

What kind of man – or was it a horrible creature – would do such a thing? The locals and the gypsies have their theories. So do the Talbots.

Lawrence sets out to find the creature, only to be bitten by him, adding to the curse already bestowed on the family. Great special effects show him turn into a werewolf, while gory special effects show him ripping people to shreds. This one is not for the faint of heart...or those planning to eat dinner after the movie.

Lawrence's brother's widow (Emily Blunt) takes a liking to him, while his father acts strangely, leading to an all-out bloody battle at the end.

Fans of this genre (I'm not one of them) will enjoy the plot and special effects. Rated a big R, with gory violence, but no sex or profanity.