The Howling (1981)

[Jim H]

Howling is one of the better werewolf movies.  If it wasn't a werewolf movie though, it wouldn't be remembered as well as it is.  That is, if it had been about some other type of monster, it would only be a decent film.  But most werewolf films are so bad (sadly) it really sticks out as a good film.

BTW, I feel the nature of the werewolves is pretty poorly explained.  They're implying becoming a werewolf changes them, but with the exception of Stone's husband we don't really see that.  And it is unclear exactly why he changed as quickly as he did.  That is, it didn't seem like becoming a werewolf really changed him as such, it felt more like he wanted to become like he did.  Some of the other werewolves seem to be able to deal with it however they wish - whether that involves staying as a relatively normal person or becoming feral or whatever.

What I'm saying, they needed to make it more clear how much personality wise becoming a lycanthrope changes these people.  

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Stone changes into a werewolf, but from what we see, her personality is EXACTLY the same.  Which makes her assisted suicide, if you will, simple stupidity - and I don't think that is what Dante meant for it to be.  From what we see of the werewolves, becoming one of them seems to be purely advantageous.  The (mostly terrible) sequels reinforce this notion, with the exception of The Freaks.

I guess "losing her humanity" or whatever may have been the problem, but it seems silly to me more than anything.






***END****

[LH-C]

I like 'The Howling' a lot, it's fun and cheesy and Chris and Dee work well together. They also worked on seven other projects together. Chris died in 1995 at the age of 53. I even remember Dee being on Inside Edition or Hard Copy back in the day talking about how her family was adjusting to his death.