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| About Review |
Reviewer
Bub
Review Date
29th April, 2004
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| Movie Credits |
Director
Joe Dante
Cast
Dee Wallace
Patrick Macnee
Dennis Dugan
Christopher Stone
Belinda Balaski
Screenplay
John Sayles
Tagline
"Imagine your worst fear a reality."
Country
USA
Classification
R
Year
1981
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| Errors |
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| DVD Cover Art |
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| DVD Information |
Format
NTSC
Region Coding
1
Aspect Ratio
1.85:1
16x9 Enhanced
Yes
Running Time
91 minutes
Year Released
2003
Packaging
Keep Case
Extra Features
Audio Commentary
2 Documentaries
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Photo Gallery
Theatrical Trailers
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The Howling
The Plot
TV Newscaster Karen White, after a near fatal encounter with a serial killer,
decides to take time off at a retreat called “The Colony.” At night she is
frightened by the howling in the woods and when she investigates, Karen makes a
horrific discovery behind the friendly nature of “The Colony,” and now she must
fight for her very life to live to tell the horror behind The Howling.
The Movie
I had long heard of this werewolf movie directed by Joe Dante, praised as one of
the finest werewolf movies to grace the screen and with special effects by FX
Wizard Rob Bottin of The Thing fame, and I had long wanted to see it. Recently I
sat down and watched the film on it’s newly released Special Edition DVD
released by MGM, and I was surprised at the movie. I had seen Joe Dante’s
Piranha, so I expected something really tongue-in-cheek (there are some moments
like this in the film, like the ending scene showing all the reactions to the
news broadcast). There are a lot of jokes, but you won’t really get them unless
you are a werewolf movie expert. I didn’t get them, but that didn’t matter...
What surprised me is the relatively dark tone. The beginning scene in the porno
shop where Eddie shows Karen the tape was quite darker than what I’d expect from
Dante. However, the slightly dark tone didn’t bother me, because I always like
the dark, nihilistic route better (like the way The Thing and The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre were) because I always think a horror film should be downbeat and dark
to be truly scary. The Howling, however, is a balance of both, which works well
for the film. The Acting is pretty good especially Dee Wallace as the
traumatized newscaster. The atmosphere is good also. Then we get into the
special effects, praised for their realism and overall coolness by fans, and I
must say they are as great as everyone says they are. The transformation scene
rivals a similar scene in An American Werewolf in London and the werewolves are
amazing.
The films flaw is its knack for boring and quite slow scenes. You have to wait
through some slow scenes, but besides these scenes, this is a great, fun
werewolf romp that horror fans should check out.
The DVD
After a while of fans having to put up with MGM’s Original The Howling DVD, with
only a theatrical trailer, fans welcomed a new Special Edition DVD. For
Appetizers, we get 2 trailers for the film, trailers for Jeepers Creepers,
Carrie, and The Fog as well as other MGM recommendations, a photo gallery, and
outtakes. Not impressed yet? Well, for the main course, we get deleted scenes,
"Making a Monster Movie: Inside The Howling" documentary, Audio commentary with
director Joe Dante, Dee Wallace, Christopher Stone, and Robert Picardo, and, to
top it all off, we have a 52 minute "Unleashing the Beast: Making The Howling"
multi-part documentary. Phew! This DVD is certainly a good buy for horror fans,
for both the movie and the Special Features the DVD’s loaded with.
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DVD Rating |
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