Most critics respond warmly to The Wolf Man, with praise clustering around its sympathy for Larry Talbot and the craft that gives his predicament weight. The favourable reviews value the tragedy as much as the scares, finding lasting interest in the suggestion of evil beneath respectable appearances. Foggy forest sets, make-up, direction and script all earn approval. Lon Chaney Jr.’s performance is a particular source of praise for its anguish and tenderness.
The verdicts nevertheless span a wide range, and Chaney is a point of disagreement: The AV Club criticises his performance while singling out Jack Pierce’s make-up for praise. Collider admires the central relationship but finds the film cut short. Variety supplies the clearest negative verdict, questioning its entertainment value despite approving of the direction and acting. The two partially accessible reviews offer too little evidence to establish their reservations.