Year: 1981
Runtime: 115 min
Language: English
Directors: John D. Hancock, Michael Wadleigh, Rupert Hitzig
When brutal killings plague New York City, police detective Dewey Wilson is assigned to the case alongside criminologist Rebecca Neff. Their investigation leads them to a terrifying discovery: the murders are being committed by a creature drawn from Native American mythology. As they pursue the mysterious predator, Wilson and Neff must confront a dangerous combination of ancient secrets, cutting-edge science, and a shocking truth about the killings and the city itself.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Wolfen yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Explore the full timeline and setting of Wolfen (1981). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.
Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:02
Meet the key characters of Wolfen (1981), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.
Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:02
Explore the central themes of Wolfen (1981), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.
Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:02
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Gritty urban investigations that uncover ancient forces in a modern world.If you enjoyed the investigative thrills and supernatural dread of Wolfen, explore more movies like it. This section features similar gritty crime stories where detectives uncover ancient horrors lurking within modern cities, perfect for fans of tense, atmospheric thrillers.
These narratives typically follow investigators—detectives, journalists, or scientists—as they pursue a series of bizarre crimes or events. The initial rational approach gradually gives way to the acceptance of a supernatural or mythological explanation, often rooted in themes of nature's revenge or forgotten ancient powers. The investigation itself becomes a journey into the unknown, challenging the characters' worldview.
Movies in this thread share a core structure of a rational investigation colliding with an irrational threat. They are grouped by their blend of procedural pacing, a dark and serious tone, high-stakes intensity, and the atmospheric use of urban landscapes as a character. The shared experience is one of gritty discovery and escalating dread.
Stories where the natural world fights back against humanity with terrifying consequences.For viewers who appreciated the environmental themes and bleak ending of Wolfen, this section collects similar movies about nature's revenge. Discover stories where the boundary between animal and human predation blurs, featuring tense thrills and heavy philosophical themes about urban decay and ecological balance.
The narrative pattern involves humanity, often represented by urban society or industry, triggering a catastrophic response from a natural force. This force is typically intelligent, ancient, and vastly superior in its domain. The characters' struggle is not for a clear victory but for survival and a grim understanding of their own insignificance, culminating in an ending that is often tragic or contemplative.
These films are united by their core theme of ecological backlash and their consistently dark, heavy tone. They explore the unsettling idea that humanity is not the planet's apex species and use horror elements to deliver a serious environmental commentary. The shared mood is one of foreboding, melancholic tension, leading to a impactful, often bleak, conclusion.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Wolfen in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Wolfen is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Wolfen, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Wolfen with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Wolfen that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Wolfen: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Wolfen that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Wolfen (1981) Plot Summary & Movie Recap
Wolfen (1981) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Wolfen (1981) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Wolfen – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
The Wolfman (2010) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Wolves (2014) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Wolf Pack (2023) Story Summary & Characters
Werewolves (2024) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Wolf Man (2025) Complete Plot Breakdown
Dark Wolf (2003) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Wolves of Wall Street (2002) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Wolf Blood (1925) Ending Explained & Film Insights
The Wolf Man (1941) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Werewolf Woman (1976) Story Summary & Characters
The Werewolf (1956) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Werewolf (1997) Complete Plot Breakdown
Dire Wolf (2009) Full Movie Breakdown
Wolf (1994) Full Summary & Key Details