The Howling (1981)

[Marya Zaleska]

Oh Hi!

It's The Countess Marya here to write about one of my favorite horror movies.

Well, let me get over here to my nice comfty easy chair. All seated, skirt fixed, knees crossed, claret in hand and my reading glasses on.

The Howling was a 1981 horror film which was based on a novel by Gary Brander and set to a screenplay by John Sayles and Terrence Winkless.

The film was directed by Joe Dante

The main cast includes:

Dee Wallace Stone as Karen White
Patrick McNee as Dr. George Waggner
Dennis Dugan as Chris
Belinda Belaski as Terry Fisher
Elisabeth Brooks as Marsha Quist
Christopher Stone as Bill Neill
Kevin McCarthy as Fred Francis
Robert Picardo as Eddie Quist
Slim Pickens as Sheriff Sam Newfield

Karen White , a TV news anchor, is stalking out a serial killer named Eddie Quist. The setup is made for Karen to meet Eddie in a porno theatre. When she actually sees Eddie she screams and Eddie is shot. After this, Karen suffers amnesia.

Her therapist, Dr. Waggner, recommends that both she and her husband Bill go to a place called "The Colony", a secluded resort out in the country, for treatment.

The Colony has it's fair share of unusual persons such as Marsha Quist, a nyphomaniac. She is also the sister of Eddie Quist. She tries to seduce Bill but he resists. He then is attacked and bitten by an animal which was a werewolf.

Chris and Terry find Eddie's apartment with all kind of weird pictures, including a drawing of Karen. There is also a drawing of an unusual landscape which is a cove. When they find that Eddie's body is no longer in the morgue they due research on werewolves and Chris buys a pack of silver bullets.

Later on Bill and Marsha meet by the campfire, have sex and then turn into actual werewolves.

Terry goes to the Colony to meet with Karen who has summoned her. Terry then puts together the cove sketch in Eddie's apartment as being an actual location here at The Colony. When checking out the Doctor's office files, Terry is killed by one of the werewolves.

Eddie then confronts Karen and turns into a werewolf but she escapes. Chris gets there in time to kill Eddie with a silver bullet. Unfortunately it comes to light that all the members of The Colony are werewolves. Dr. Waggener had set up this place to see if those with this affliction could fit into society.

When escaping Chris shoots the Doctor and several colonists with silver bullets. They close up the barn where the colonists are located and set it afire. They barely escape but during the getaway Karen is bitten.

She wants to prove the existance of such creatures and appears on her prime time news program in which she turns into a werewolf. Chris then shoots her with a silver bullet.

The closing scene in the bar shows various customers claiming what great special effects they have for the evening news broadcast. However, seated at the end of the bar is Marsha Quist. This clerly shows that she escaped from the burning colony.

In the last scene one of the customers ask Marsha how would she like her hamburger. Marsha state "Rare".

I think this is one of the best werewolf movies made. I have not seen the squels but generally they fall far short of the original. This is a top, hip werewolf movie all of the way.

Leonards Maltin rates this one three stars out of four. I personally would go 4 stars out of four.

The werewolf transformations are superb and the film does not lack for tension or action.

To me this is one of the best of it's genre.

However, this is not for the tepid or any real young one's. It does have some nudity, sexual situtations and gore.

But for mature movie buffs like myself, it's GRRRRReat!

Well, it's now time for beddie bye. I need go get my coffin fixed and ready for my slumber.

Until next time, your hostess for the supernatural

Countess Marya Zaleska, A Sexy Senior Blood Sucker

[crabapple]

I liked this one a lot. Has a great story steeped in pop-psychology. One of the most unusual and enjoyable (and funny) werewolf movies.

[paws the great]

The Howling is my favorite werewolf flick!;) I also like An American Werewolf in London,Bad Moon, Big Bad Wolf and The Night of the Werewolf (Paul Naschy).

[neverending]

Definitely a great werewolf film. Plus- what a cast!

[Disease]

This is an awesome movie, the second one is not bad either, unfortunatley the had to make a heap of shit sequals as usual....

[ManchestrMorgue]

The Howling is a great film. One of the better werewolf films made.

It is interesting that this film was made in the same year as An American Werewolf in London. These films have a very different feel to one another. IMO Howling has a much grittier feel, whilst AAWIL is glossier. AAWIL has the better transformation scenes, but ultimately I think the werewolves in The Howling are the more convincing.

[crabapple]

They're both great films, and they're apples and oranges. AAWIL had a lot more money to spend, so it has that pricey production look. The Howling achieves some wonderful things on a really small budget. Both are awesome.

[DP McCoy]

I liked The Howling too,both book and movie.The effects were pretty damn good for the time although *SPOILER WARNING* I always have to chuckle when at the conclusion Karen White transforms into a werewolf that looks a little like this ...



Still a pretty good werewolf movie!

[jenna26]

Originally Posted by DP McCoy

I liked The Howling too,both book and movie.The effects were pretty damn good for the time although *SPOILER WARNING* I always have to chuckle when at the conclusion Karen White transforms into a werewolf that looks a little like this ...



Still a pretty good werewolf movie!

LOL.....cute.....;)

I like it as well, but I don't love it as much as others seem to. Its not my favorite werewolf film by far, but its still a very good horror film.

I have never read the book, but have always meant to. Always seem to forget about that one.