Wolf

Wolf

Year: 1994

Runtime: 125 mins

Language: English

Director: Mike Nichols

DramaRomanceHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsBloody vampire horror

Will Randall, a weary publishing executive, is on the brink of losing his job to a younger colleague. After a wolf bite, he experiences a surge of energy and vitality, rekindling his ambition. He pursues Laura Alden, his former boss’s daughter, while battling mounting animalistic urges that threaten to transform him into the creature that bit him.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Wolf (1994)

Trace every key event in Wolf (1994) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Bite on the Vermont road

On a Vermont country road, Will Randall runs over a large black wolf and is bitten while attempting to help it. The bite triggers an awakening in him as his vitality increases and his senses sharpen, signaling the start of a transformation. He returns home unsettled, not yet fully aware of what is changing inside him.

During the road incident Vermont country road
2

Publishers' takeover and demotion

A few days after the bite, tycoon Raymond Alden announces he is taking over Will's publishing house. Will accepts a demotion and Stewart Swinton is installed as editor, reshaping the power dynamics of the company. The move sets the stage for Will's escalating personal and professional conflict.

A few days later New York publishing house
3

Will meets Laura Alden

Will encounters Laura Alden, Alden's headstrong daughter, and is drawn to her. The budding connection occurs as Will's enhanced vitality hints at the changes he's undergoing. The encounter places Laura at the center of Will's emerging conflicts.

shortly after demotion Aldens' estate
4

Suspicion of an affair

Will, now sensing his heightened abilities, suspects that Charlotte and Swinton are having an affair after noticing Swinton's scent on Charlotte's clothing. The suspicion foreshadows a dangerous entanglement in the Randall household. The tension deepens Will's paranoia and jealousy.

a few days after the bite Will's home
5

Confrontation at Swinton's apartment

Will confronts Charlotte and Swinton in Swinton's apartment, exposing the affair and losing his temper. He bites Swinton's hand in a fierce display before storming out and leaving Charlotte behind. The violent act marks Will's transition from ally to threat.

that evening Swinton's apartment
6

Affair deepens and a fateful night

Will begins a relationship with Laura and spends the night at the Aldens' villa after suffering a fainting spell. He awakens transformed and mauls a deer in the estate park, waking up covered in blood. The night crystallizes his new dual life as predator and lover.

that night Aldens' villa
7

Meeting Dr. Alezais and the amulet

Will visits pagan expert Dr. Vijav Alezais, who explains that he is transforming into a wolf. The doctor gives Will an amulet intended to prevent the transformation's completion. The amulet becomes a symbol of control against the animal self.

soon after the first transformations Dr. Vijav Alezais' location
8

Zoo break and memory loss

That same night, during another transformation, Will breaks into a zoo, steals handcuffs from a police officer, and viciously attacks a group of muggers. He wakes later in his hotel bed with no memory of the events. The wild episode illustrates the loss of control accompanying his changes.

that night Zoo; hotel
9

Writers' mutiny and power shift

Will orchestrates a mutiny of writers threatening to walk unless he remains editor-in-chief. Alden agrees, and Will's first act is to fire Stewart. He urinates on his shoes in the bathroom, claiming he is 'marking his territory' in a provocative demonstration of power.

the following days New York publishing house
10

Cuffs and night in the city

Will cuffs himself to his hotel room radiator to contain himself, then Laura arrives and eases his fears. They spend the night together, but Will leaves the hotel room unnoticed and roams Central Park transformed. The city becomes a backdrop for his double life.

that night Hotel room; Central Park
11

Charlotte's death revealed

The next morning Detective Bridger informs Will that Charlotte was found dead in Central Park with canine DNA on her. The evidence confirms his fears and shifts the danger outward toward Laura. The revelation catalyzes the next conflicts.

the next morning Central Park / police
12

Laura confronts Swinton and the stable trap

That evening, Laura locks Will in a horse stable and heads to the police to give a statement. Inside the estate, Swinton behaves brutishly and sports golden eyes, hinting at his own cursed nature. The chase escalates toward a physical confrontation.

that evening Stable; Alden estate
13

Final showdown and the fall of Swinton

Swinton invades the estate, kills two guards, and attempts to rape Laura. Will discards the amulet and fights Swinton, ruthlessly mauling him. Laura finishes Swinton with a gun as Will, still half-human, takes a final, uneasy moment with Laura before vanishing.

that evening Alden estate
14

Into the woods

Will, now fully a wolf in spirit if not in form, disappears into the New England woods after a brief moment with Laura. Laura, awakening to a new perceptiveness, watches as Will's animal call echoes through the trees and her eyes begin to change in response to the transformation.

moments later New England woods

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 11:30

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