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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Howling is a werewolf film that is a little different to your average horror -- which is probably why it has endured so long. Karen White (Dee Wallace -- who every bloke went bananas over, in the day, though I thought Belinda Balaski (who plays her friend Terri) was far more "appealing" in this respect!) is a TV reporter who (whilst going undercover to try and expose a serial killer who is stalking her) survives a werewolf encounter. Because of the shock, she is invited (by her therapist -- a Christopher-Lee-like Patrick Macnnee) to recuperate at "the colony" (a spooky, woodland reserve by the seaside) where -- as you might guess -- when the moon comes out, all is not as it seems.
The acting (as was the case for the subsequent year's big werewolf film, An American Werewolf in London) is much better than you would expect in a "creature feature" and the main characters are all convincing. The atmosphere of the colony is great -- think misty trees, wood cabins and sixties (Lost-style) university buildings. Of course, any werewolf film also lives or dies on the beast itself and in this respect, The Howling is a somewhat mixed bag. It seems that the budget was saved for the later stages of the film, as before then (due to some truly awful -- at one point animated! -- effects) I was thinking this was a 2 or at most a 3 star film (nothing more than a well acted B movie, with men in hairy suits; I was wondering how I could have remembered this so fondly!). Throughout, though, there is an razor-sharp tension, that builds and builds and then suddenly erupts into the horror you were expecting from a film of this standing. When the beast emerges fully, you are left suitably terrified to realise what the fuss was all about! (Far more so than with any modern CGI Werewolf!)
Like Piranha and Gremlins, Dante's trademark dark humour is in place (though somewhat muted, in comparison, to make way for genuine tension here). There is occasional skin, but nothing to write home about (if you like that sort of thing in your horror films!) Ultimately, if you like early eighties horror films, then you will feel right at home here. The production values are somewhat mixed, but the setting is charming and atmospheric and the leads keep the storing moving, and when the terror emerges it is genuinely unsettling! If it weren't for the B-movie patchiness at times, I'd give this 5 stars, but don't let that put you off: it's still one of the best werewolf films out there (possibly competing with Ginger Snaps for second place to American Werewolf -- my opinion!) Enjoy!.....
The acting (as was the case for the subsequent year's big werewolf film, An American Werewolf in London) is much better than you would expect in a "creature feature" and the main characters are all convincing. The atmosphere of the colony is great -- think misty trees, wood cabins and sixties (Lost-style) university buildings. Of course, any werewolf film also lives or dies on the beast itself and in this respect, The Howling is a somewhat mixed bag. It seems that the budget was saved for the later stages of the film, as before then (due to some truly awful -- at one point animated! -- effects) I was thinking this was a 2 or at most a 3 star film (nothing more than a well acted B movie, with men in hairy suits; I was wondering how I could have remembered this so fondly!). Throughout, though, there is an razor-sharp tension, that builds and builds and then suddenly erupts into the horror you were expecting from a film of this standing. When the beast emerges fully, you are left suitably terrified to realise what the fuss was all about! (Far more so than with any modern CGI Werewolf!)
Like Piranha and Gremlins, Dante's trademark dark humour is in place (though somewhat muted, in comparison, to make way for genuine tension here). There is occasional skin, but nothing to write home about (if you like that sort of thing in your horror films!) Ultimately, if you like early eighties horror films, then you will feel right at home here. The production values are somewhat mixed, but the setting is charming and atmospheric and the leads keep the storing moving, and when the terror emerges it is genuinely unsettling! If it weren't for the B-movie patchiness at times, I'd give this 5 stars, but don't let that put you off: it's still one of the best werewolf films out there (possibly competing with Ginger Snaps for second place to American Werewolf -- my opinion!) Enjoy!.....
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is plain awful, not in the least bit scary and drags on for ages before we get to see any action. The special effects were ok while the transformations were taking place but the end result was like something out of the muppet show.
Why on earth would someone stand and watch in horror as a human transform into a wolf and not leg it while they had the chance.
I would say maybe it was good back in 1981 but American werewolf in london is 100 times better than this.
Why on earth would someone stand and watch in horror as a human transform into a wolf and not leg it while they had the chance.
I would say maybe it was good back in 1981 but American werewolf in london is 100 times better than this.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of my all time favourite movies. I saw it at the flicks when it came out, bought it on VHS and now have it on DVD.
This edition includes a "Making of" documentary and deleted scenes and outtakes which are interesting and informative.
Rob Bottin's makeup effects are awesome and inventive and the general atmosphere is dark and threatening. My sole gripe is with Dee Wallace's makeup in the final moments: more care bear than killer wolf.
If you've never seen this film, you are missing out on one of the great horror films of the early 1980s. I highly recommend it.
This edition includes a "Making of" documentary and deleted scenes and outtakes which are interesting and informative.
Rob Bottin's makeup effects are awesome and inventive and the general atmosphere is dark and threatening. My sole gripe is with Dee Wallace's makeup in the final moments: more care bear than killer wolf.
If you've never seen this film, you are missing out on one of the great horror films of the early 1980s. I highly recommend it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
'The Howling' is one of the all time best werewolf movies.
As you might know The howling is an 80's horror classic and one of the most entertaining werewolf films ever. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Puzzle box
A great lyncanthrope movie
This is a highly effective horror film - the suspense builds slowly, and the finale is pretty darned nerve-wracking. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Coastin Bear
A Howl Of A Good Film
This film is one of
the best 80's
Werewolf films l
have ever seen.
Ok l'm a little
biast because it
is my favourite
horror film. Read more
the best 80's
Werewolf films l
have ever seen.
Ok l'm a little
biast because it
is my favourite
horror film. Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2008 by Claire Louise Clarke
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