I really wanted to make us of this films own thread (if there exist one in here?) and I know that there has to be at least one or two of the sequel (I know, as i started one and wrote in another) but since the search function is once again down
and out (extremely annoying, as I will not waste time on going through 69 pages backwards, in search of one title), and so I will just drop it by here instead:
The Howling (1981) by Joe Dante
"You can't tame what's meant to be wild, doc. It just ain't natural."
A female news reporter (Dee Wallace) have gone deep undercover in order to try and call out a dangerous serial killer and get a hold of an exclusive interview with him. But what she gets instead from their little "rende-vouz", is something far more terrifying, and it will continue on to traumatize and haunt her very thoughts and dreams, so much, that she is sent on a short holiday towards what seems to begin with, as a far more calm and relaxing place than the busy and stressful nature of the big city.
Sadly for Karen White, this change of pace will soon reveal its true face and one that surely is anything but calm and peaceful.Surely one of the most well known werewolf films of the 80s, and where director Joe Dante would follow up his cult-favorite
Piranha (1978) with another cult-classic, one which sadly kind of fell a bit behind the more known or popular
An American Werewolf in London, which of course also were released in 1981, but I think The Howling beat it with almost 5-6 months.
Anyway, The Howling is still quite an interesting and exciting horror movie, which blends in horror, adventure, satire, erotica and comedy, and while it may not be as great as I would have liked or hoped it would be on a much later re-watch, I still believe it is one of the more original and creative films of that time.
It have been a while since I last time re-visited most of the more familiar werewolf titles of that decade, but there is no question that The Howling felt more dark or creepy in tone and story, than most of the others, and of course it comes with maybe my most favorite werewolf transformation scene as well, which is downright evil and unsettling in every way.
Sure, An American Werewolf in London deserves its praise, rightly so, but still I often do prefer the one (transformation part) taking place in The Howling, and while many seem to complain about it being too "slow", I would "kill" for this kind of stuff taking place in modern horror movies, where it so often looks just dull/bland.
Anyway, for Karen it must have been a horrible moment, knowing very well what kind of a horrible human being Eddie Quist really is, so then to meet up with his "other" side, now that is the stuff of true nightmares, and people do react very differently when in danger.
Still, the most terrifying thing about the whole transformation part has to be the evil and gruesome close up Eddie's face and eyes, and it was such a nasty and creepy scene that what followed with the full sized werewolf, almost became a small "letdown" compared to the first 3 minutes or so, and I guess An American Werewolf pretty much succeeded better at that, than The Howling. But when it comes to the transformation part, my vote would surely go to Rob Bottin and his work on The Howling.
Sure, the one film had probably a budget of about 1 to 1,5 million dollars, while the other had about 5-6 extra million dollars more to work from, so with that in mind, I think Joe Dante did one hell of a job with this film.
In the leading role as Karen White, Dee Wallace once again proves what a talented actress she was back then, and quite the scream queen as well, who gets the shock of a lifetime and afterwards when trying to prove all the terrifying stuff that have taken place over the last few days, the audience only dismiss it as just another attempt of BS its viewers.
Something I really enjoyed about the film and the story, is that it kind of goes beyond the usually and overdone horror book "rules", and here there is no need for the full moon to rise, as those who are "gifted" with the power of the beast, can turn into a killing machine whenever they feel like it, and that is quite interesting and cool, I think.
In other parts, you find the always reliable Dick Miller, this time as a bookstore owner, and of course Patrick Macnee who portrays the seemingly kind and generous Dr. Waggner, while the stunning Elisabeth Brooks almost steal the show as the seductive and dark mistress that is Marsha.
Another highlight of the film, is the music of Pino Donaggio, who creates a very dreamlike yet uncomfortable mood and setting through sounds and melodies.
All in all, I really wanted to hand it a higher rating, but somehow it just did not work out as well as I had hoped for, but still it quite something different from most of the other werewolf films I have seen, and feel at times more like a mystery/suspense film than a horror movie.
It would soon be followed by a doze of "sequels", where some are just awful in every way, while others are actually incredible funny and very entertaining bad movies, such as the second one,
Your Sister is a Werewolf (1985), which is one of my favorite bad movies, of all time.
The first one is of course the best film, no doubt about it.
7,5/10 
and out (extremely annoying, as I will not waste time on going through 69 pages backwards, in search of one title), and so I will just drop it by here instead:
