The Howling
The Howling

The Howling

1981Movie91 minEnglish

After a bizarre and near fatal encounter with a serial killer, a newswoman is sent to a rehabilitation center whose inhabitants may not be what they seem.

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IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes76%
Google Users76%
Director: Joe DanteGenres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A television newswoman is traumatized by a brutal encounter with a serial killer in an adult cinema. She checks into the 'Island,' a remote retreat for the emotionally disturbed, run by a psychiatrist. However, she soon discovers that the residents are not what they seem, and the retreat is a front for a colony of werewolves.

Critical Reception

The Howling received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its practical effects, dark humor, and suspenseful atmosphere. It is often considered a classic of the werewolf subgenre, noted for its unique take on lycanthropy and its satirical edge.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its groundbreaking werewolf transformation effects.
  • Appreciated for its blend of horror, dark comedy, and social commentary.
  • Lauded for its suspenseful storytelling and unsettling atmosphere.

Google audience: Viewers often commend the film's effective special effects for its time and its ability to build tension. Many appreciate the creative take on werewolf lore and the unsettling nature of the secluded community, though some find the plot occasionally convoluted.

Fun Fact

The film features numerous cameos from directors and actors associated with horror and exploitation films, including John Carradine, Kenneth Tozzi, and Robert Picardo.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_The first time cinema audiences saw werewolves like this!_** After a news anchor in Los Angeles (Dee Wallace) has a traumatic experience on the sleazy side of town, her therapist (Patrick Macnee) sends her and her hubby (Christopher S...
The Movie Mob

The Movie Mob

**The Howling was groundbreaking for its time but isn’t the timeless classic I hoped it would be.** The Howling is a definitive werewolf horror film that introduced new ideas to the genre and broke new ground for special effects. The hid...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

"Karen" (Dee Wallace) is an investigative reporter with a local television channel who is focussed on a local serial killer. When the police corner and kill this man, it has a curiously profound effect on the woman and she loses her memory....
John Chard

John Chard

A secret society exists, and is living among all of us. They are neither people nor animals, but something in-between. In the name of good television, newswoman Karen White (Dee Wallace) forms a bond with serial killer Eddie Quist (Rober...