The Howling

Name: The Howling
Genre: Horror
Released: April 10, 1981
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Belinda Balaski, Christopher Stone, Dee Wallace, Dennis Dugan, Elisabeth Brooks

1981

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 48 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 48 Ratings

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The Howling

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Movie Details & Credits

AVCO Embassy Pictures | Release Date: April 10, 1981 | R

Starring: Belinda Balaski, Christopher Stone, Dee Wallace, Dennis Dugan, Elisabeth Brooks, John Carradine, Kevin McCarthy, Patrick Macnee, Robert Picardo, Slim Pickens

Summary: After a bizarre and near fatal encounter with a serial killer, a television newswoman is sent to a remote mountain resort whose residents may not be what they seem.

Director: Joe Dante

Genre(s): Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 91 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Carole Corbeil

The ironic use of every seventies psychological cliche in an unapologetic, unabashed B-movie elevates The Howling to irresistible silliness. Written and directed by Joe Dante, who comes to us straight from the horror-movie forge of Roger Corman, The Howling pays enthusiastic scenic homage to B-movies while remaining faithful to the exploitation formula of the genre. [15 May 1981]

Eric Henderson

From the very first scene, The Howling plays around with the notion of vulnerability as a role-playing exercise, a pseudo-sex game. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Succeeds best as a witty, knowing commentary on the genre itself. References to lycanthropic lore, literature and cinema abound; gags are plentiful; and the whole thing casts a pleasingly skeptical glance at various social fashions and fads of the times. Read full review

Empire Mark Dinning

Yes, Rick Baker won the Oscar a year down the line for his American Werewolf In London FX. And, yes, they are staggering. But it is Rob Bottin's work here (with inflatable air bags under a latex "skin" and a pioneering "hydraulic snout") that is — and ever shall be — the pinnacle of mutation effects. Amen. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

A must-see for horror fans, with more than one viewing recommended. Read full review

Gary Arnold

Despite its excesses, "The Howling" has some tricks and jokes worth howling about. The sexual undercurrents in the werewolf myth have been made playfully explicit, especially in the sultry, voluptuous form of Elisabeth Brooks, cast as a nympho werewolf named Marsha. When she ambushes a victim in the woods, they change forms in the course of coupling strategically obscured by a blazing campfire in the foreground -- a deliberate howl of a sex scene. [13 March 1981, p.C1]

Vincent Canby

It's also one of those movies that is itself so lethargic that one welcomes its so-called shock moments not because they are scary but because they indicate that not everyone behind the camera has been napping. You don't dread the possibility of something jumping out from behind the door. You long for it. Read full review

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User Reviews

Amulet

Apr 20, 2021

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1 of 1 users found this helpful10

NickTheCritick

Nov 4, 2021

It's probably the best werewolf movie ever made and certainly my favorite of Joe Dante. It's entertaining and terryfing as hell. It's gourgeos, a must-see for everyone.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

HellHoleHorror

Apr 15, 2022

This is most definitely one of the better werewolf films that you can see but far from the best horror around. The first hour is a good and scary film but the last thirty minutes gets lost into a scrappy mess. It is such a shame as the first hour had me petrified on the edge of my seat. TheThis is most definitely one of the better werewolf films that you can see but far from the best horror around. The first hour is a good and scary film but the last thirty minutes gets lost into a scrappy mess. It is such a shame as the first hour had me petrified on the edge of my seat. The problem is that the ending is like it is from a children’s film. It is almost a precursor to Joe Dante directing Gremlins which is almost a tongue-in-cheek horror. It also feels like it was finished in a rush with scrappy cuts and crosses throughout the last twenty minutes. It is good but be prepared for a disappointing and predictable ending but relish in the masterful fear and atmosphere before that. By the way the werewolf effects are impressive but occasionally overused except that we don’t see them fully in shot standing up ever.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Voodoo123

Nov 15, 2021

+Fantastic visual effects
+Excellent story ideas
-Weak screenplay -Terrible pacing I really got a strong xfiles like vibe from watching this (im of course aware how much older this was than that show!). It has a fascinating blend of a mystery serial killer investigation, a drama exploring+Fantastic visual effects
+Excellent story ideas
-Weak screenplay
-Terrible pacing

I really got a strong xfiles like vibe from watching this (im of course aware how much older this was than that show!). It has a fascinating blend of a mystery serial killer investigation, a drama exploring the trauma of a journalist who gets too close to her case and a horror story that ties them all together. Sadly the pacing of this movie hasnt aged well and it just never stays slow enough in the horror scenes to be scary, and the cinematography and colour felt garish and basic which took away tension in the dramatic scenes between characters. The potential for this felt massive and watching this i just felt like it was the best it could be for its day and that the distraction of the visual effects behind the scenes got in the way of the storytelling. For anyone who enjoys a horror/mystery/thriller this is a must watch despite its flaws.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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