I was initially optimistic about the latest cinematic update of The Wolfman (photo above right). The cast was pretty good (Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt), the legendary Rick Baker was doing the creature make-up, and music video director extraordinaire Mark Romanek was all set to helm.

Then Romanek fell out and was replaced by Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III… ugh), and the production has been plagued by endless re-shoots and release date shifts and all the other things a studio does when they know they have a dog with fleas (or in this case a wolf with fleas) on their hands.

Perhaps even less enticing: Gene Simmons is doing the “howling” voice for the titular monster.

I’ve never heard Simmons howl, and I think there are other people who might be more fitted for the job. Then again, Simmons clearly knows something about being inhuman and sticking his tongue where it’s not wanted. So he’s got that going for him.

Still, he’s no Mike Patton.

In other Kiss news, the band has a new song streaming here. I don’t really care anymore but maybe you do.

-AR