THE HOWLING
US, 1981, 86 minutes, Colour.
Dee Wallace, Patrick Macnee, Kevin Mc Carthy, Denis Dugan, Slim Pickens, John Carradine.
Directed by Joe Dante.
The Howling is a werewolf film that has received something of cult status. It was written by John Sayles, a writer of many genre films including Clan of the Cave Bear, Alligator, Battle Beyond the Stars as well as serious films like Brother From Another Planet, Baby It's You, Lianna. The film, was directed by Joe Dante, director of a number of genre films including Piranha, who graduated to bigger budget films like Twilight Zone, The Explorers and, particularly, Gremlins. The film has a strong cast led by Dee Wallace and Patrick Macnee. A number of veterans from genre films appear in supporting roles including Kevin McCarthy?, John Carradine, Slim Pickens.
The screenplay is a homage to writer-directors of B-budget horror films from the '40s and '50s. The characters in The Howling are given the names of many of these directors including George Waggener, Earle Kenton, Lew Landers, Freddie Francis, Dick Miller, an actor who appeared in many Roger Corman films as well as those of the directors he influenced, is the same character, Walter Paisley, as he was in Corman's Bucket of Blood. Roger Corman has a small cameo as does John Sayles himself (as the morgue attendant).
The film is not meant to be taken too seriously. While it is exceedingly clever in its homage to the films of the past, it also is a striking werewolf film. The special effects by Rob Bottin are eerily effective.
(There was a sequel - more or less in name only - directed by Australian Philippe Mora in the mid-80s, followed by another three.)
1. An entertaining horror film? The appeal of horror films? The visualising of nightmares? The werewolf film? The Howling as a homage to the Hollywood horror genre?
2. Photography, special effects - especially for the transformation of the humans into werewolves? The eerie atmosphere of George Waggener’s clinic? The contrast with the city, the television stations? The use of light and darkness? The musical score for atmosphere?
3. The title and the horror tone? The atmosphere of a werewolf film?
4. The mythology of werewolves? The human and the animal in the human? The seasons and the transformation? The humans as victims of their animal nature? The destruction of the humans? The pessimism of this film with Karen herself being transformed before the TV audience? her having to be shot with silver bullet?.
5. The film as the story of Karen: her working on television, television news (and its sensationalism)? The situation of the sex killer, Eddie? Her decision to act as a decoy? Her going into the porno film booth? Her being chased by Eddie? The patrolman shooting into the booth? The psychological effect? Her nightmares? The contact with Dr Waggener? His involvement in the chase for Eddie? His inviting her to stay at his Colony? Bill coming with her? The eerie atmosphere, the howling in the woods? Karen's discovery of the cattle and their mutilations? The hunting party? The local policeman searching? Bill being attacked and bitten? Karen's friends Terry and Chris, their being upset by the drawings and the disappearance of Eddie's body? Their contacts with Karen? Her alarm at Bill's change? His involvement with Marsha? Karen and the further deaths, the discovery of Terry's body, the confrontation with Eddie? Her throwing the acid at him? Dr. Waggener preventing her from leaving the colony? Her discovery of the truth about the patients as werewolves? Chris coming to defend her? The horror of the werewolf attacks? The escape? Bill biting Karen? Her decision to go on television and explain the danger; to the public? The transformation on screen? Her wanting Chris to kill her with the silver bullet? The pessimistic ending of the film with this death of the heroine?
6. Dr Waggener and Patrick Macnee's suave style? His involvement in the manhunt? His friendliness towards Karen? The Colony? His patients? His smooth manner? Warding off difficulties? The revelation of the truth? The mad scientist and his wanting to use the werewolves and their energies? his preventing Karen leaving? The satire on the suave mad scientist?
7. Bill and his love for Karen, going to the Colony, his being bitten, his transformation, the liaison with Marsha? The effects on him? His biting Karen?
8. Chris and Terry, their work at the television station, friendship with Karen, discovery of the drawings, the disappearance of the body? Their going to the Colony? Terry's death? Chris helping Karen with the escape? His sadness in having to kill Karen?
9. The gallery of: patients at the Colony? Marsha as the vamp from horror films? Earle Kenton and John Carradine's age and dignity?
10. Sam Blofeld and Slim Pickens' western style as the sheriff for the search party?
11. The film's using the conventions of the werewolf genre and changing them? Part humorous, part satire?
