The Howling

1981's THE HOWLING succeeds in many respects, but for me the most intriguing aspect is its melding of both B movie love and more cerebral considerations.  But are they truly mutually exclusive?  Watch older low budget/exploitation features and you're likely to discern social commentary, or at least the germ of one.  I suppose that argument could be made for even latter day refuse like HUMAN CENTIPEDE, but the tone is of utter cynicism and depravity.  I'm not interested in mere parades of gore and unpleasantness, though I can often appreciate some skillful make-up artistry and special effects.

Director Joe Dante's THE HOWLING has all of that, based on a wise screenplay by John Sayles.  It's interesting how this most idiosyncratic of independent filmmakers began his career, writing self aware, often clever trash movies, some for Roger Corman.  Sayles previously collaborated with Dante on PIRANHA, a spoof/cash-in of JAWS.  I miss the days of smart exploitation, and watching THE HOWLING again recently was almost like a wallow in "comfort cinema".

Our story is largely set at a secluded California resort, where L.A. T.V. news anchor Karen White (Dee Wallace) has retreated - on the rec. of her psychiatrist - following a harrowing encounter with the serial murderer who had been stalking her.  She and husband Bill (Christopher Stone) immediately notice that the people there are rather odd.   An old guy makes a scene, perhaps wanting to off himself in a bonfire.  A woman in what appears to be fetish gear makes a pass at Bill.  The woman's brother is just plain weird.  But the good Dr. George Waggner (Patrick Mcnee) sends all his patients to the "Colony", and when he's not delivering long winded psych explanations he's holding court with the residents.   There are strange sounds at night.  Wild dogs? "Howling" wind?

Is Karen delusional? Paranoid? You already know the answer.  Perhaps so does our heroine.  Wallace plays the role as a shell shocked, but not really clueless young woman.  The colony is weird all right, and may be filled with....

THE HOWLING was one of three werewolf movies in '81, quite overshadowed by AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, which is a better offering.  John Landis really achieved an unforgettable, deeply unsettling tale that was frightening, funny, and quite sad.  Dante's film more readily embraces camp, and like his colleague he fills the frame with in-joke movie references and cameo appearances.  Rick Baker left this movie to go work with Landis, but Rob Bottin ain't no slouch.  His work with prosthetics and hydraulics for the transformation scenes are better than I remembered.  Impressive for what is ultimately just another drive-in feature.

But one worth your time, if you like monster movies.  Dante's direction and editing are terrific. He also achieves a nice mix of sardonic humor and creepy dread.  The more heady among you will enjoy the psychological themes, apparent from the earliest moments.  In some ways, it's like a "body horror"/scientific takedown that David Cronenberg never got around to filming.