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Dee Wallace, Patrick Macnee, Dennis Dugan, Christopher Stone, Belinda Balaski ... see more see more... , Kevin McCarthy , John Carradine , Slim Pickens , Elisabeth Brooks , Margie Impert , Noble Willingham , James Murtaugh , Jim McKrell , Kenneth Tobey , Don McLeod , Steve Nevil , Herb Braha , Joe Bratcher , Forrest J Ackerman , Bruce Barbour , Sarina C. Grant , James MacKrell , Chico Martinez , Dick Miller , Michael O'Dwyer , Robert Picardo , Meshach Taylor , Roger Corman , John Moio , John Sayles , Marneen Fields , Wendell Wright , Bill Sorrells

This groundbreaking, darkly comic horror film from director Joe Dante changed the look and feel of werewolf movies in ways light-years distant from Universal's horror classic The Wolf Man. The story b... read more read more...egins with television reporter/anchor Karen White (Dee Wallace) taking part in a dangerous police operation intended to trap psychopath Eddie Quist (Robert Picardo). When confronted by Eddie face to face, she witnesses something horrifying enough to trigger selective amnesia. Plagued by a series of violent nightmares, Karen decides to admit herself to a posh recovery resort known only as "The Colony," run by her eccentric New Age therapist, Dr. Waggner (Patrick MacNee), and brings along her husband, Bill (Christopher Stone), for support. The night after they arrive, Karen and Bill are unnerved by eerie howling in the woods.Back in the city, Karen's co-workers Chris (Dennis Dugan) and Terry (Belinda Balaski) have been investigating Eddie's background after discovering that his body has disappeared from the morgue. Sifting through Eddie's possessions, they find a strange collection of artwork depicting wolf-like creatures, and decide to consult with Walter Paisley (Dick Miller, of course), the owner of an occult bookshop, on werewolf lore. Though he claims not to believe in the stuff he's selling, Paisley nevertheless convinces Chris to purchase a handful of silver bullets...just in case.Back at the colony, Dr. Waggner has organized a hunting party after hearing Karen's account of the nocturnal howling, but the men find nothing but a rabbit, which Bill is told to bring to the cabin of the sultry Marsha (Elisabeth Brooks) to prepare for dinner. After resisting Marsha's less-than-subtle sexual overtures, Bill is attacked by a wolf while returning to his cabin. The following moonlit night, the sleepless Bill wanders outside to find Marsha waiting and the two make love by the campfire, their bodies undergoing a frightening transformation. Just as Karen is beginning to suspect that her husband is hiding a secret far more threatening than marital infidelity, Chris and Terry have come to realize -- too late, in Terry's case -- that Eddie Quist is not only still alive, but not quite human...and he knows he's being followed. Chris arrives at the colony too late to save Terry, but manages to find Karen just as the colony's residents -- all of whom are werewolves, including Dr. Waggner -- are assembling to decide her fate.Dante fills his film with heartfelt homages to The Wolf Man and other classic horror movies, as well as a few clever visual puns and in-jokes from his tenure with Roger Corman, but never strays from the path to genuine horror, particularly when Rob Bottin's chilling monsters are onscreen. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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60% liked it

29,981 ratings

Critics

62% liked it

26 critics

R, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Joe Dante

Release Date: March 13, 1981

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DVD Release Date: August 28, 2001

Stats: 1,184 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,184)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    December 9, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Aside from An American Werewolf in London, The Howling is one of the best werewolf films ever. Joe Dante crafts a solid werewolf film with great acting, terrifying moments and good acting. The film does have room for improvement, but overall, The Howling is a solidly crafted film... read more. After a near fatal encounter with a mass murderer, reporter Karen White is sent to a rehab facility to recuperate from her ordeal. However she soon realizes that things are strange and aren't what they seem. The film is brilliantly directed by Joe Dante who previously helmed Piranha and went on to direct other classics such as Gremlins and The Burbs. The film feature a terrific cast of actors, Slim Pickens is of course, one of the most noteworthy names of the cast and he delivers something totally different from his previous work. The film features awesome special effects by Rob Bottin who would later create the astounding effects in John Carpenter's The Thing. The Howling is a terrific piece of horror cinema that is most definitely a classic. The film has a terrific plot and great scares to keep the most diehard Horror fans pleased. Joe Dante is a very underrated director, and all of his films have something to love about them. The Howling is tense, horrifying and totally strange the way a horror film should be. I once saw a review by Roger Ebert stating that this was a film that shows a women being the victim, he threw this film in the same basket as I Spit on Your Grave and other slasher films of the early 80's. Ebert seemed to forget that THIS is a WEREWOLF film not a slasher film. Man, I hate that critic. Anyhow this brings me to a point. The Howling is not a film that shows the woman being the victim, sure the main character recovers from an ordeal where she almost gets killed by the hands of a serial killer, but in no way is this glorifying it. That plot device sets the tone to the story, and The Howling should not be dismissed as trash. The film is a good old fashioned Werewolf film that scary, thrilling and exciting. A well written and executed horror film. Also it shows that Roger Ebert doesn't know shit about what he's talking about.
  • blkbomb
    September 18, 2011
    blkbomb
    Karen: A secret society exists, and is living among all of us. They are neither people nor animals, but something in-between.

    "Imagine your worst fear a reality"

    The Howling is a decent werewolf film. It doesn't match some of the best of the genre, but it also exceeds the ... read moregreat majority. Joe Dante always brings a lot of fun to his movies and The Howling is no different. The movie is fun in sections, but throughout I'd call it only mildly engaging. The whole colony setup was really obvious, so it was all very predictable.

    I liked the movie for the most part and will say that it is a worthwhile watch. There are a few scenes in the movie that are really well done including a really cool ending that I loved. The rest of the movie is just good enough to get you through to the great scenes. The cast isn't great, but it isn't bad. The performances are admirable without being all that good.

    Basically The Howling ends up being a movie that I'm in between on. It's good enough for a recommendation, but not good enough to say you need to watch it. If you're a fan of the genre, definitely watch it because it is good enough for at least one viewing. Just don't expect a movie that exceeds An American Werewolf in London.
  • ajv2688
    January 10, 2011
    ajv2688
    My favourite modern werewolf film, I loved it! The story is suspenseful and mysterious, and the special effects are really good. If you like werewolf movies, I highly recommend it.
  • theylovealexis
    December 6, 2010
    theylovealexis
    This was kinda boring. I did like the classic werewolves and the ending and not just because it was the end of the movie.
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    It's ridiculously 80s, but that's one of the best elements. It has a lot to do with pop culture dealing with urban legends, which was pretty original. I loved the glossy look of the movie and the effects (just bizarre). You gotta love Dee Wallace and the crazy bunch of werewolves... read more terrorizing her. While it's a little outdated, it's still a fun movie.
  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    It was cutting edge horror when it came out. Now the SFX seem a bit dated but it does not matter, other horror films of the same time like the evil dead are scarier and other werewolf films like American werewolf in London have better effects but this matters not either. This is ... read morea classic horror film that is imposable to dislike because it does no wrong! Give me these special effects over CGI any day!
  • garyX
    January 16, 2009
    garyX
    A TV news anchorwoman helps to trap a serial killer and retires to a new age colony to recuperate, only to find it is stalked by werewolves. This film came out at around the same time as An American Werewolf In London, and both were lauded over for their ground breaking SFX, but ... read morethis is definitely a case of the passage of time separating the wheat from the chaff. American Werewolf's FX may have been the headline grabbers, but the wit and intelligence of the script and likable, characterful performances have made it stand the test of time admirably. Unfortunately, The Howling has fared a lot worse. I've never rated Dante as a director, and his clod-hopping approach is as evident here as ever, filling the screen with dry ice and clumsy dream montages, lit like a Spinal Tap concert. The constant visual references to wolves in pop culture are scattershot and witless, the clip of The Wolfman in particular served only to make me wish I was watching that instead. And he was obviously so proud of the effects that the camera lingers on them making the transformation scenes last an age, which serves only to make you see how rubbish they look by today's standards. Add bad soap opera level performances from a cast of has-beens and never weres and the whole thing is really best forgotten.
  • flixsterman
    January 7, 2009
    flixsterman
    Great special effects that were state of the art for 1980. *Dee Wallace as a werewolf looks like a Pomeranian on steroids.
  • 366weirdmovies
    December 4, 2008
    366weirdmovies
    After a traumatizing encounter with what she believes to be a serial killer in a peep-show booth, a female investigative reporter goes to a strange resort to recuperate, where things get even worse. Suspenseful horror movie with an atmosphere of oddly erotic evil and transformat... read moreion scenes that still stand up today.
  • Deano78
    September 6, 2008
    Deano78
    One of the better werewolf films in the series with some jumpy scenes.

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Critic Reviews

Matt Brunson
October 22, 2011
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing

A top-notch werewolf flick. Full Review

Nick Schager
November 6, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

A perverse, satirical contribution to the oft-maligned werewolf genre. Full Review

Jon Niccum
August 26, 2005
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

A classic werewolf effort

David Nusair
May 22, 2005
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...with its slow pace and lack of compelling characters, it's hard not to wonder just what it is about the movie that fans have latched onto... Full Review

Dan Lybarger
March 25, 2005
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online

A first-rate horror offering.

Ken Hanke
March 1, 2004
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Amusing horror spoof with great character names for this who know their werewolf movies.

John Beifuss
October 27, 2003
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Jokes are placed within the frame like details in the panels of a Mad magazine movie parody...

Chris Barsanti
August 26, 2003
Chris Barsanti, Filmcritic.com

You could fashion a good drinking game out of catching all the sight gags Full Review

Walter Chaw
August 25, 2003
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

Its monsters are curiously wimpy, these hulks don't so much smash as paw meekly. Full Review

John J. Puccio
August 21, 2003
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

By the time The Howling finally gets howling, it's pretty much over. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Chris: I've got silver bullets in here. (points rifle)
    • Jerry Warren: Silver bullets my ass! Get up, T.C.!
    • Chris: (looking in what was Eddie Quist's morgue locker) - He's not here!
    • Morgue Attendant (Uncredited): He was here this morning!
    • Terry Fisher: (noticing the damage on the inside of the locker door) - Look at the door!
    • Chris: You think somebody took him?
    • Morgue Attendant (Uncredited): Well, he didn't just get up and walk away!
    • Eddie: I'm gonna give you a piece of my mind. I trusted you, Karen.
    • Dr. George Waggner: Repression. Repression is the father of neurosis, of self-hatred. Now, stress results when we fight against our impulses. We've all heard people talk about animal magnetism, the natural man. The noble savage, as if we'd lost something valuable in our long evolution into civilized human beings. Now there's a good reason for this.
    • Karen White: There was howling just a minute ago.
    • R. William "Bill" Neill: It was probably somebody's stray dog.
    • Karen White: It didn't sound like any dog I've ever heard before.
    • R. William "Bill" Neill: Honey, you're from Los Angeles. The wildest thing you've ever heard is Wolfman Jack. This is the country.
    • Donna: Haven't you ever done Assertiveness Training? Before I looked into the Doc, I did it all - EST, T.M., Scientology, iridology, Primal Scream. I don't know, I figure another five years of real hard work, and maybe I'll be a real human being.
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The Howling Trivia

  • Which movie does this quote come from? "Last night - you were unhinged. You were like some desperate, howling demon. You frightened me. - Do it again!"  Answer »
  • What do Ginger Snaps, Dog Soldiers and The Howling all have in common?  Answer »
  • Whst is Karen Whites job in The Howling ?  Answer »
  • Karen White has a near fatal incident with a serial killer in The Howling ?  Answer »
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