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The Howling on DVD (1980)

The Howling cover art
Average rating: 63%
1114520111122
3.0
from 593 members
 
Starring: Dee Wallace, Patrick Macnee, Dennis Dugan, Christopher Stone, Kevin McCarthy, John Carradine, Slim Pickens, Elisabeth Brooks
Director: Joe Dante
Studio: MOMENTUM PICTURES
Run time: 87 mins
Certificate: 18
User collections: Werewolves!, The best Horror ever, GIVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE!, WHEN DARKNESS FALLS!
Genres: Horror
Languages: English
Released: 18/10/2004

Brief synopsis of The Howling

Based on the best-selling novel by Gary Brandner, this horror film makes effective use of the classic werewolf tale. Dee Wallace stars as Karen White, a popular female reporter in Los Angeles who cannot escape the horror of a traumatic experience that she suffered while trying to capture Eddie Quist (Robert Ricardo), a dangerous serial killer. When her psychologist (Patrick Macnee) recommends a retreat to "The Colony," up the Northern California coast, she reluctantly agrees, hoping to recover from her nightmarish visions. Karen and her husband (Christopher Stone) arrive at the remote retreat and are shocked at the bizarre behavior of the motley crew of residents. Lurking in the ominous Northern California woods, blanketed by fog, strange sounds can be heard at night, luring the members of the retreat into the forest. In anguish, Karen stumbles on the deadly secret of the community: when sexually excited, they turn into werewolves! The horrified journalist tries to escape from the retreat, battling the lair of leering lycanthropes in a fight for her life. Superb special effects add to the picture, with several shocking human-to-monster transformation sequences.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Co-writer John Sayles and director Joe Dante have huge fun turning werewolf clichés on their head in this rare beast — a horror film that gore fans and film buffs can enjoy. For the former, there is Rob Bottin's amazing make-up and a witty plot in which a sceptical TV journalist (Dee Wallace) uncovers a werewolf colony that's trying — unsuccessfully — to tame its animal instincts. And, for the latter, Dante touches his cap to monster greats of the past by naming key characters after cult horror directors such as Terry (Terence) Fisher and Fred (Freddie) Francis, and finding cameos for the likes of Kevin McCarthy, Dick Miller and Roger Corman.

Time Out

Though it works well enough as a werewolf thriller (not, admittedly, a genre packed with masterpieces), Dante's film -... Read more on www.timeout.com

Rating of 1 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

A plethora of werewolves and a glut of in-jokes pale beside a gallery of convincing and horrifying special effects.

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 2 starsnot worth it

A customer from staffordshire , 22/12/2006

is anyone else sick to death of never getting new releases delivered? i've not had one dvd delivered that was released this year. it's a good job i also like old films and have a big list but ALL new titles are in my priority list and i NEVER get any. sort it out Tesco or i'll be cancelling.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsThe Howling

A customer from England , 27/12/2004

This was the first horror movie I watched that I really enjoyed, the special effects were brilliant, I would say it is along the same enjoyability with american werewolf in london which is another movie I thought was brilliant for the same reason, I actually love horror movies, but not too blood thirsty and gore, but these two in particular are my favourites of all time, also my wife is the oppisite to me, she never watches horror, but these two she has watched and enjoyed, I also thought the originanal exorcist is up there along with my favourites, the other howling follow ups were not at all the same, they were very poor

  3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsHow Horror Films Should Be Done

MJL from Coventry [Highly rated reviewer] , 11/01/2005

i rented this out because i could not remember if i seen it, really glad i did. although can tell its from the 80's but excels in the special effects dept, even better than some recent efforts, and scarier for that reason too. i think the effects in those days still stand out and make the films stand out more. Excellent transformations, and quite a good story, ok slighlty predictable. A good film to get a remade at some stage, just hope they do not ruin the atmosphere of this original. If you enjoyed American Werewolf in London then this is a close second to that film, and im certain they both came out the same year.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 stars

sunil#2 from BIRMINGHAM , 06/10/2004

Great werewolf movie, with excellent transformation effects. The best of The Howling series. Good pace, funny with a cool ending. watch it!!

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 2 starsnot worth it

A customer from staffordshire , 22/12/2006

is anyone else sick to death of never getting new releases delivered? i've not had one dvd delivered that was released this year. it's a good job i also like old films and have a big list but ALL new titles are in my priority list and i NEVER get any. sort it out Tesco or i'll be cancelling.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 stars

sunil#2 from BIRMINGHAM , 06/10/2004

Great werewolf movie, with excellent transformation effects. The best of The Howling series. Good pace, funny with a cool ending. watch it!!

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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