The Howling (1981) by Joe Dante

Director: Joe Dante

Year: 1981

Country: USA

Alternate Titles: N/A

Genre: Werewolf

Plot:

Shaken up following a bizarre confrontation, a newswoman is taken to a colony of like-minded individuals out in the woods, only to quickly get the feeling something strange is occurring in the area and tries to prevent herself from succumbing to the truth about werewolves living at the colony.

Review:

This one is such a lot of fun that there's not a whole lot really wrong here. What really makes this one stand out is the fact that there's a decided and enjoyable devotion to suspense along the way, as it really settles into a pretty chilling tale along the way. The misdirection at the beginning with the stalker angle and how it all confronts itself in the adult theater gives this a great start, especially with the way it subtly hints at the change through the shrouded fog of the booth, hiding it perfectly and requiring the need for the trip to the woods, which is where the film really gets going here. From the constant otherworldly wolf-howls constantly echoing throughout the woods, the discovery of the slaughtered animals with inhuman wounds, and the growing realization of the impending turn that it creates, a rather frantic and chilling set-up is created here for the truth to come out really well.

Even the other efforts here to bring the werewolf angle out, the investigation into the attacker and his connection with the colony out in the woods, lead to some great fun here and lead into another really strong aspect here with that coming out in full force on the great attack on the colleague out in the woods. With the pieces coming together nicely and the chasing throughout the area leading to a great scene that finally lets the truth be known, it sets up the film's utterly iconic and centerpiece sequence in the confrontation in the office, here turns into the greatest transformation ever done.

This shows the whole transformation in agonizing detail, starting with a close-up of the yellow eyes and the start of the fangs to appear. From there, the face begins to get hairier and hairier, the eyes yellower, and the fangs more pronounced, changing to get more dog-like, and the snout begins to form, getting longer and longer with the face blackening. Finally, we get the body to change into a more wolf-ish form, and the best on-screen werewolf transformation is complete into a very fierce and evil-looking monster. This film's werewolf is the design that I hold closest to the official design of a werewolf ever. The design gives it a totally evil presence, and it looks ready to rip the throat out of anyone unlucky enough to see it.

That is a lot more threatening than a person who becomes a werewolf and is struggling with the curse of being one. With the action at the finale at the barn here they confront the creatures once and for all, making this a wholly exciting old-school throwback finish where they're seemingly surrounded by creatures on all sides. It gives this a lot to really enjoy here over the lone flaw. The only complaint here is that the werewolves are seen too close to the end to really make an impact. The threat is always there, but not once is a werewolf seen until the end. They needed to appear more in the film. Beyond that, there's some debate to be had over the greatness of the effects, but no one will ever deny that this is one of the genre's landmark films.

Overview: *****/5

Featuring so many likable qualities and not too many genuine flaws here, this one becomes not just the better of '81s werewolf movies but one of the genre's standout titles overall. Those with an interest in this aspect of the genre are curious about it, or are fans of the creative crew, while only those turned off by these factors should heed caution.