MovieChat Forums > Wolfen (1981) Discussion > Native American bar sequence

Native American bar sequence

posted 14 years ago by Wuchakk
12 replies | jump to latest

***SPOILER*** At the 90 minute mark Dewey Wilson (Finney), half-dazed after the death of his buddy, lumbers into a Native American bar where they explain to him the mystery of the wolfen. To me, this 5 minute scene is one of the most captivating, surreal and potent scenes in all of cinema; everything works -- the music, dialogue, acting & casting. The sequence could have easily failed if everything wasn't just perfect, but it is. And, speaking of the Indians, Edward James Olmos is outstanding as the mysterious Native, who may or may not possess shape-shifting abilities.

Was anyone else impressed by this scene?

[–] efs2 14 years ago

Me.

I think it's the centerpiece of the movie. At their best, writers and directors are magicians. And that scene is magic. It shrinks the entire world we know down to that small space, and then reveals another world.

Magic.

Come back, zinc! Come back!

[–] ghost_hat 13 years ago

This scene is pregnant with meaning...
it's incredibly important because they explain
the "wolfen", but so much more is going on.
When Finney walked in he had those visible
scratches on his face. It was as if he had
been marked, and everyone at the bar seemed
to know it.
I felt the explanation could have been more clear,
but this was also from their point of view. I think
this movie played up the supernatural/mystical aspect
of the wolfen rather than making it scientific.

[–] objviewer 13 years ago

Oh my gosh, just watched this movie again, and watched that scene 3 times. I so agree, it is one of my favorite movie scenes ever. I'm not a horror movie fan, and while I think this movie as a whole is pretty good for what it is; that one scene has always stayed with me. It is just perfect - every time I watch it, it sends chills down my spine. Like when you first hear that bird sound the camera isn't on anyone - then we see it's Edward James Olmos making it, then others making it - great movie moment.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

That scene was pivotal to the film, and it elevated this from being "just" another horror movie. Edward James Olmos was excellent here, and his character sticks with me long after I have seen this film. Horror films have so much potential as social commentary, but sadly, they rarely take that chance and instead opt for cheap scares. This movie gets it right.

[–] Mudflap 12 years ago

I saw this movie when it was released and I have never forgotten that bar scene. I don't think I can name a more mistical moment in a horror movie. Truly amazing and well worth a discussion thread.

**SPOILERS**

An interesting thing is that the guy who brings the beer to Finney actually adds to the scene. He comes out of nowhere and wisecracks something with a white-guy accent like "don't believe this indian jive man, they've seen too many cowboy movies."

Also the Indian women in the scene who don't talk until one suddenly breaks into song, and Almos saying "you don't have the eyes of the hunter, you have the eyes of the dead..." you can totally see Finney's reaction of inner panic when Almos says it. Almost like Finney is beginning to realize that even if he had an atom bomb strapped to himself he'd still be completely out-gunned.

And at the end when Almos turns off the lightbulb and there's the gentle transition into the next scene, it's just magic. It's straight up Indian magic!

[–] WarpedRecord 12 years ago

Thanks for the recollections. "Wolfen" is an excellent film through and through, but the Indian mysticism elevate it considerably in my book, and those scenes are pivotal to this film's effectiveness.

It seems like movie fans have a never-ending appetite for horror, but it's generally a very disappointing genre that relies on the tried and true instead of breaking new ground. I wish more films went out on a limb like this one did. Perhaps those scenes will alienate a few viewers, but the ones it reaches will remember them forever.

[–] Wuchakk 10 years ago

Anyone else impressed by the Native American bar sequence?

"Animals? They may be gods."
~ Wolfen

[–] Globalcharmer 9 years ago

I've enjoyed many bar sequences but never one as good as that.

[–] GunHillTrain 9 years ago

There's a certain irony however. New York's Native-American community (mostly in Brooklyn) was never large but many of its members worked in construction, especially as high-rise ironworkers. I'm not sure how true this is nowadays. Anyway, I might guess that any Indians in New York would actually be pro-development because their livelihoods depended on it.

[–] dalmdad 8 years ago

I love when Eddie goes and explains the whole thing to Dewey and then Holt says "Don't believe a word of it". Does he mean it as a question or as sarcasm in the sense there is no way Dewey could ever understand. Ambiguous.

[–] Wuchakk 8 years ago

Although he knew his explanation was reality he also knows that the larger intellectualized culture would never embrace it; rather they'll just roll their eyes, chalking it up to Native legend or mysticism.

My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/

[–] Wuchak (8104) 3 years ago

The American Indian bar sequence is indeed one of the Greatest Moments in Cinema.