Will Randall (Jack Nicholson) hits a wolf while driving on a snow covered road. As he checks on the animal, it bites him on the hand. Will's job is in danger when the publishing house gets taken over by wealthy Raymond Alden (Christopher Plummer). His underling Roy (David Hyde Pierce), protégé Stewart Swinton (James Spader) and author Maude Waggins (Prunella Scales) all vow to support him. Alden demotes him to eastern Europe while giving his editor-in-chief job to Swinton. It turns out that Swinton had pitched vehemently for the job behind his back. Will is tired and meekly accepts his fate. Then he starts to change. His heighten sense of smell uncovers his wife Charlotte (Kate Nelligan) cheating with Swinton. He starts a relationship with Raymond's daughter Laura (Michelle Pfeiffer) with Raymond's disapproval. He seeks out Dr. Vijay Alezais (Om Puri)'s help with the animal spirit possession. With his new powers, he takes revenge on Swinton and his wife. When his wife turns up dead, Detective Bridger (Richard Jenkins) investigates.
Director Mike Nichols is trying to dig into the mental transformation of the werewolf character. On the surface, this could be fascinating with Nicholson being so obviously wolf-like. Pfeiffer is not winning in this sour role. Spader is as always sleazy. Plummer gives a run-of-the-mill effort. Nicholson is bitten with the opening credits and his transformation isn't as compelling as it should. Horror fans are probably bored with the first half and unimpressed with the weak effects. On the other hand, Nichols fans won't find the acting that special. Nicholson peeing on Spader is a nice move. The movie is too long. The tension and the dread isn't there. I don't sympathize with anybody here. It is fun to see David Schwimmer in a small role right before he gets Friends but not much else is fun in this movie.
Director Mike Nichols is trying to dig into the mental transformation of the werewolf character. On the surface, this could be fascinating with Nicholson being so obviously wolf-like. Pfeiffer is not winning in this sour role. Spader is as always sleazy. Plummer gives a run-of-the-mill effort. Nicholson is bitten with the opening credits and his transformation isn't as compelling as it should. Horror fans are probably bored with the first half and unimpressed with the weak effects. On the other hand, Nichols fans won't find the acting that special. Nicholson peeing on Spader is a nice move. The movie is too long. The tension and the dread isn't there. I don't sympathize with anybody here. It is fun to see David Schwimmer in a small role right before he gets Friends but not much else is fun in this movie.