The Howling — A Review

7th May, 2019.

OK …



Have you ever felt that watching a film would be a good idea?

Or, come to that, watching a TV show?

One or the other, at least?

You know how it goes, you’ve got nothing to do of an evening, nowhere to go, you’ve had dinner, the laundry’s done, you’ve finished that book … 

What ever: you have time on your hands, and are wondering what to do.

Personally, I actually fancied a movie: as I had a few I’d not seen, sitting in my movie collection.

Frankly?

After sorting out some for my 8 year old nephew, Jude — who thinks Men In Black looks entertaining*, and Boxtrolls looks weird and interesting — I fancied a movie or two … 

Ones that possibly had an 18 rating.

Or maybe not … I’m actually tempted to see Boxtrolls … 

At any rate … ?

I fancied something scary.

Something to make me jump.

So felt watching the 1981, Joe Dante film, The Howling could be just the thing.

Just as a question?

Was it time well spent … ?

Hmmm … 

~≈§≈~

Based on the book of the same name†, The Howling opens by introducing us to Karen White (Dee Wallace): a television news reporter covering the case of serial killer, Eddie Quist (Robert Picardo): who’s been stalking her … and managed to arrange a meeting with her in a local adult theatre.

Only for things to go scarily well.

With Quist seemingly dead, Karen is traumatised: and only to happy to accept her psychiatrist’s suggestion.

Spending time in his Colony, out in the wilder parts of the country.

When Karen and her husband, Bill (Christopher Stone) get there?

There find the scenery gorgeous, the residents mostly friendly … 

But the nights? 

The nights are just a bit TOO loud for what the local sheriff assures them is just an issue with coyotes …



Get the feeling there’s going to be issues … ?

~≈§≈~

Now … 

Good, bad, indifferent, octagonal or cheese flavoured … ?

I think we can count out cheese flavoured.   And octagonal.

As for good or bad?

I have to confess, I’ve seen one or two reviews of The Howling: and one thing stuck in my mind, of all the reviews I’d seen.

Most were positive: but fairly explicit in saying the first half — roughly the first forty-five minutes or so — were … quite slow.

I think I’m going to agree with that.

We get to see some of California’s wilder bits of scenery: wild forest, rugged coast, foggy mountain side …

But not much in terms of moving plotline.

That slow pace had me seriously thinking of hitting the Stop button.

OK: towards the latter half of the film — from roughly where the husband gets bitten — the pace started picking up.



The pace … and the action, I should add.

That’s also when the film’s famed transformation effects kicked in.

Which weren’t bad, I should add: but something I found inferior to the effects in An American Werewolf in London.

On the whole, though?

On the whole, and given I was tempted to turn this film off?

Granted, the pace picks up: but I’d urge you to think twice about watching The Howling.

You may prefer spending your time with something else.

The Howling★☆☆☆

*        We saw the bit where the alien baby throws up go on Will Smith.   That got a laugh.

†        Going by the Wikipedia entry?   The two have broadly similar plots: but noticeable differences …