It probably was unrealistic to hope for something of a similar quality to that of “The Invisible Man.” The last time Leigh Whannell directed a movie, it was that almost shockingly good entry from early 2020. His “Wolf Man” is not of that caliber. Like “The Invisible Man,” it is an offering from Universal Pictures that serves as a reboot of a decades-old franchise — 1933 birthed “The Invisible Man,” an adaptation of the H. G. Wells novel from the late 1800s, while “The Wolf Man,” starring Lon Chaney Jr. as the furry fellow, came along in 1941 — with budget-conscious and well-regarded horror studio Blumhouse Productions helping to shape it. Whereas 2020’s “The Invisible Man” proved to be an interesting take on an obsessive relationship, “Wolf Man” — in theaters this week — is something less ambitious. Far less. Woof. OK, maybe “woof” is unfair. The film is at least competently executed. It offers vaguely decent visuals, excellent (and creepy) surround-sound effects and tells a cohesive story. Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott star in “Wolfman.” (Courtesy of Universal Pictures) However, the screenplay by Whannell and Corbett Tuck is surprisingly basic, boasting far too few moving pieces to keep the viewer deeply engaged. Related Articles ‘September 5’ review: Dramatization of Munich massacre coverage is gripping ‘Nickel Boys’ review: POV approach, while admiring daring, hampers film ‘The Last Showgirl’ review: Pamela Anderson’s performance powers film ‘The Damned’ review: Cold and bleakness of Iceland adds to horror tale ‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’ review: Aardman hits a gnome run “Wolf Man” begins in the mid-1990s in rural Oregon, where, on-screen text informs, a hiker is rumored to have encountered an airborne virus that brought great change to him, ending in something the area’s Indigenous population compares with a wolf. It is then and there we meet a local man, Grady (Sam Jaeger, “The Handmaid’s Tale”), out hunting for deer with his young son, Blake (Zac Chandler). Hammering home to Blake that death is a constant threat — “We are all inches away from it,” he says — Grady soon encounters what he believes to be the one-time hunter. “Wolf Man” then jumps ahead 30 years, to adult Blake (Christopher Abbott) out in a busy San Francisco enjoying daddy-daughter time with young Ginger (Matilda Firth). Like his father, he is very protective of his child, scolding her for not getting down from a construction structure she walks atop the moment he tells her to do so. A writer between jobs, Blake has had a lot of time to strengthen his bond with Ginger — an ongoing bit in which he asks her to read his mind is very cute — while her mother and his wife, Charlotte (Julia Garner), has been especially busy with her journalism career. Julia Garner’s Charlotte, Christopher Abbott’s Blake and their daughter, Ginger, played by Matilda Firth, face a threat in “Wolf Man.” (Courtesy of Universal Pictures) When the state of Oregon informs him by letter that his father is finally recognized as deceased (hmmm, that doesn’t sound suspicious), Blake convinces Charlotte the three of them should rent a truck and drive to his dad’s farmhouse to collect a few things. He sells her on the idea the time spent together will be good for a marriage about which he has become worried. Lost on a forest road in Oregon, Blake encounters a childhood friend (Benedict Hardie), who offers help finding his father’s place, acting creepily in the process seemingly for no reason. Then comes what passes for the movie’s best scene, Blake crashing the truck while trying to avoid a mysterious figure — perhaps a creature? — that appears on the roadway. From there, Blake does his best to protect his family, attempting to barricade them in the farmhouse once they find it. But, oh no, he’s becoming ill and undergoing mysterious changes after he and Charlotte discover an odd wound under his sleeve. And, so, yes, we essentially get a fully formed wolf man versus a developing wolf man for a while, as Blake, no longer able to communicate with Charlotte and Ginger, strives to keep them safe. However, won’t Blake eventually become a threat to them? Charlotte, portrayed by Julia Garner, and her daughter, Ginger, portrayed by Matilda Firth, try to stay alive in “Wolf Man.” (Courtesy of Universal Pictures) Leads Abbott (“Poor Things,” “It Comes at Night”) and Garner (“Ozark,” “Inventing Anna”) do what they can to prop up “Wolf Man,” but they are not the level of talents capable of making something more of it. Not that many actors are. “Wolf Man” simply is not a film strong enough in mood, character development and thematic work to be this short on plot. You simply expect a little more from Whannell, whose other credits include penning the “Insidious” movies and directing 2015’s “Insidious: Chapter 3” and 2018’s well-received “Upgrade.” Here, he provides the obligatory blood, scares, growls and howls but little more into which hungry moviegoers can sink their teeth. ‘Wolf Man’ Where: Theaters. When: Jan. 17. Rated: R for bloody violent content, grisly images and some language. Runtime: 1 hour, 43 minutes. Stars (of four): 1.5.