Wolfen(1981)
1981 · Michael Wadleigh · 115 min
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.
Horror · Thriller
6.0264 votes
TMDB score
3/5
Intensity
2/5
Gore
3/5
Stays with you
How Wolfen scares
There's a heavy, uneasy mood hanging over this one, built more on dread and mystery than on shocks. It moves slow, like a detective story, following an investigation through decaying parts of the city while something unseen watches from the shadows. The threat feels ancient and almost otherworldly, tied to old legend rather than typical horror movie monsters, and the movie plays it fairly seriously instead of going for cheap scares. It's a good pick if you like moody, thinking-person's horror more than loud jump-scare thrills.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, Wolfen rates psychological 4/5, visceral 3/5, gore 2/5, lingering effect 3/5, and overall intensity 3/5.
- Psychological: 4 of 5
- Visceral: 3 of 5
- Gore: 2 of 5
- Lingering: 3 of 5
- Intensity: 3 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 15 of 100 — leans Slow burn
Supernatural vs Real-world: 35 of 100 — leans Supernatural
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 55 of 100 — balanced
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A slow-building investigative mystery that simmers with unease and only tightens into real tension in its later stretches.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3.
How scary is Wolfen?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, Wolfen rates 3/5 — solidly scary, building its fear through slow-burn dread rather than shocks. It works on both fronts, unsettling the mind while going for the body. Expect it to be moderately gory and scary but not punishing. Some of it will follow you to bed, but it lets go within a day or so.
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