THE HOWLING OVERRATED?

[SteveSzyk]

YES! I recently saw it for the first time, and it was nothing like I expected. It wasn't scary, and the monster was so stupid! I really didn't like the film to much!

C+ (5/10)

[ParileseMonster]

Oh well, I thought it was cool, must be the times man. I have the laser disc which features extras the DVD wont have, isnt that something? So glad I kept my lasers and player! I dont get this overrated term, actually I hate the term. It just depends on your likes/dislikes, your age etc. I saw it when it first came out so you have to think that back then movies around didnt have all this technology we do now and you know people who see movies when they first come out have memories of how exciting and different it was and maybe those memories are what keep us from liking the movie even as it ages and it gets lost amoung the current thing. You really can not help but praise something that meant something to you and maybe to some who do not understand to them its overrated but to us it is a fond memory we cannot help but recall fondly and with much admiration. Does this make sense? By the way so there isnt any confusion I am not putting you down for thinking what you do, I am just trying to put in perspective what may be going on in the minds of those who praise any movie and regard it very highly.

[This message has been edited by ParileseMonster (edited 10-03-2001).]

[Hans, wihout Franz]

Gets points for makup(awsome) and homages but wasn't the best one out there.

[Antonio]

THE HOWLING (1981) Directed by Joe Dante. The all-star cast includes Dee Wallace and her late real-life husband Christopher Stone, as well as Dennis Dugan, Belinda Balaski, Patrick Macnee, Kevin McCarthy, John Carradine, Slim Pickens, Elisabeth Brooks and Dante staple Dick Miller. The story centers around Wallace’s TV reporter character, who escapes a brutal attack by a werewolf in L.A., only to realize that the mountain retreat that she and her husband (Stone) are seeking refuge in are crawling with ‘em! Great FX by Rob Bottin, and a steamy sex scene between Stone and she-wolf Brooks are highlights, and the twist ending is unforgettable. My grade: B+

[Dehydrator]

THE HOWLING, overrated? Maybe a bit.

I always considered American Werwolf the best werwolf movie ever made ( and the best horror movie too ) and I admit I was a little disappointed when I finally saw HOWLING. There's no doubt that this is a very good movie but compared American Werwolf in London in pales IMO. That's not the movie's fault. I'm sure HOWLING would have blown me from the edge of my seat when I watched it BEFORE American Werwolf in London. But as it is, I can't say that it blew me out of my seat. However, I love HOWLING III ( told ya ).

[zib]

Monster hit the nail on the head i think.

[Irish13]

Parilese, I could`nt agree more!

[Headbangerzombie]

No way is this movie overrated the best werewolf movie, ever, and one of my fav flicks of all time, the Howling is a loving, fun, ass kicking tribute to the genre. The FX are flawless and the acting great. there are things that genre fans can catch and watch over and over agian as in varoius in-jokes. a marvolous movie, far better than the uneven, episodic, though still goodn American Werewolf in London. Joe Dante's best flick, ever.

[!MorganOnyx!]

I hate this movie. The effects and shit were cool, but the story, script, acting etc was wack. It was barely watchable and very boring when people weren't dying. Piss poor. Check out SILVER BULLET if you want a good werewolf movie with a story. Sure, the wolf isn't that good, but with a cast acting their asses off, it's way more realistic and overall, alot more enjoyable.

[The Claw]

the howling isnt all that great, its pretty overrated, but it was okay. i liked the sequels more

[malaria]

Parilese is right. Those of us who grew up reading the EC comics probably appreciate it more. The film was done very much in this style - as was the likes of Creepshow, and The Fog. This will probably be lost on those who didn't have that instilled in them at an early age. These films hold a special charm for us partly because they reawaken that child in us.
I thought the creature on the filing cabinet was an excellent werewolf design again very comic-book style and that particular scene scares the crap outta me.
I myself have become very hardened to the style (or lack of) of current horror films. They are made in a glossy - always well lit way and tend to lean to the belief that the only way to scare someone is through giving them a quick jolt.
Much more unnerving and longer-lasting is a sustained atmosphere and sense of dread which the Howling masterfully manages IMO.

[ParileseMonster]

Malaria I give you three cheers! http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

[malaria]

Thanks!

[Green]

If anything I would say it is underrated, always in the shadow of An American Werewolf. I love that transformation scene and the ending in the barn. Dee Wallace is perfect in the role.

[Cujo108]

The Howling is NOT overrated at all in my opinion. It is a better film than An American Werewolf in London and the lovely Dee Wallace Stone is great in everything she does. The werewolves are awesome too, and I love their pointy ears. Plus, I like the idea of a colony of werewolves. Awesome ending as well!

[jim varney]

personolly i felt let down when i rented it. I liked it, but i was expecting perfection. The only part of the plot that wasn't predictable was when slim pickens got killed. Who would think I guy who rode on a nucleur bomb into russia in one flick is merly shot with silver bullets in another, movies truley are a fourth demention.

[Stefan]

I LOVED this film as a little kid! Some sixteen years ago when I found out this flick was gonna be on t.v., I was excited about it for days! On the night it came on I was so ANXIOUSLY excited about it ALL DAY! Nowadays, I wouldn't mind seeing it again. There is a good scene when Dee Wallace is in a darkened movie theater. That had some good suspense and tension there. I thought it had a nice story I think still could stand on it's own. I give it an A-. Sadly none of the sequels have come close to the good quality of the first "Howling" in the franchise. They should really end the franchise as far as I am concerned. But the first one still kicks butt! After "E.T." that was Dee Wallace Stone's acting career down the tubes after that. Now she is in "Invisible Mom II." No B.S. folks!

[ParileseMonster]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Stefan:
After "E.T." that was Dee Wallace Stone's acting career down the tubes after that. Now she is in "Invisible Mom II." No B.S. folks!</font>

Go to www.imdb.com (http://www.imdb.com) and you will see that her acting career since "E.T." is anything but down the tubes. She has been in other horror movies since The Howling as well. Her acting credits make up quite a long list and who the hell cares if she was in Invisible Mom 2?(hell Brinke Stevens is in the first one also and I won't hold it against her) http://www.joblo.com/ubb/tongue.gif Nothing wrong with being in a family movie every now and again, shoot if you feel that way you should have stopped watching her when she did that Lassie show. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/tongue.gif

[Salamar]

Howling is very entertaining and the ending is HILARIOUS, Joe Dante kicks ass and did a better job than Landis in Werewolf In London!!!

[Cyclonus]

I know some people would lynch me for saying this, but I can't lie. I thought it was one of the most boring movies I ever saw. Now you guys know I can appreciate a good horror movie. Hell, I'm willing to defend Day of the Dead and Alien 3, despite their flaws. I don't get it. Is this movie just not on my wavelength? I really hope there's nothing wrong with me. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/frown.gif

PS: I sincerly apologize for starting a duplicate topic.

[This message has been edited by Cyclonus (edited 03-25-2002).]

[Romero&Juliet]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Cyclonus:
Hell, I'm willing to defend Day of the Dead and Alien 3, despite their flaws.


[This message has been edited by Cyclonus (edited 03-25-2002).]</font>

....People DONT like Day of the Dead????

[Romero&Juliet]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Cyclonus:
Hell, I'm willing to defend Day of the Dead and Alien 3, despite their flaws.


[This message has been edited by Cyclonus (edited 03-25-2002).]</font>

....People DONT like Day of the Dead????
*Rolling up my sleeves*

[Romero&Juliet]

oops-y.....I posted twice...
I didn't do that to emphisize My contempt for people who dont like Day Of the Dead....I swear it. http://www.joblo.com/ubb/wink.gif

[Cyclonus]

Well, a lot of people found it a bit of a letdown after Dawn of the Dead, and it was a box-office bomb!

[Romero&Juliet]

WOW. It bombed at the box-office....huge surise, eh?? LOL....well it aint The way we Were, that's for freakin sure!!
(that rhymed!)

[Guts In My Face]

I never really liked THE HOWLING. It has its moments, but overall it put me to sleep.
The sequels....well...let's not go there!

[bowieee]

Did the howling suck.......

Hell No!.
I had my doubt at the start of the movie but the ending cleared that all up for me. Sure its no American Werewolf in London and the bubbling werewolf effects are cheesy as hell but its tons of fun dripping with cheese. 8.5/10

[Mr. Movie Man]

Yeah, this movie is pretty overated. I have to agree with Steve.

[WhatsInaName]

Yes it is.

I have seen parts 4, 5 and 6 a long time ago, 20 yrs I think, and I thought then that 5 was awesome, but not 4 and 6. Based on all the praise I read about the howling, I decided to finally seek it and see it, which I did just yesterday.

Man, was I dissapointed!

The famous transformatin scene that so many people seem to like is really bad in my opinion and the whole movie was so boring. In fact I almost turned it off half way through, but I just kept waitiing for that transformation scene. As I said before, it turned out to be a dissapointment.

[ScaryMinds]

YES! I recently saw it for the first time, and it was nothing like I expected. It wasn't scary, and the monster was so stupid! I really didn't like the film to much!

C+ (5/10)

*Sigh*, naturally you haven't taken into account the year it was made and the state of the horror movie/technology at the time. Only a few movies match up to modern limited attention span requirements, check in twenty years time what the kids then think of the movies you think rock the house down now.

And no you don't want to know my thoughts on modern horror movies and the pandering to the lowest common denominator, though that's been going on for decades in the dark genre. Very few classics imho being produced currently.

[Mr. Fred Krueger]

I've gotta disagree. I find The Howling to be extremely underrated. Most consider American Werewolf in London a superior film (mostly due to its transformation scene), but while I like American Werewolf, it's just not as good as The Howling. I love the mix of humor and horror, and Quist's full on transformation was terrifying and mesmerizing (you go, Rob Bottin!). And let's face it, the werewolf in The Howling completely trumps the big dog werewolf thing in American Werewolf.

[Brendan M.]

I didn't really like it all that much either when I first saw it, but I never really talked to anyone who said they really like it so I'm not even sure Overrated is the right word for it. Maybe "Bland" or "middle of the road".

Although it did give Dante the opportunity to direct Gremlins so you gotta be thankful for that at least.

[Psychocandy]

It had it's place back in the day. I saw it as a horror hungry 13 year old and it pressed all the correct buttons for the boy I was. It was out the gates before An American Werewolf In London. The latter is undoubtably a smarter, better movie that has likely aged a lot better than Dante's movie. Plus the makeup in the final scene of The Howling had me howling with laughter which surely wasn't their intention. That was a piece of nonsense. I've not seen it in years so I have no idea how it would play now. But it has a special place in my heart.

[SuperMarcey]

I think it is a decent film, well acted, some interesting scenes. I prefer An American Werewolf In London which came out around the same time. But I think this is an above average horror flick. You can certainly do a lot worse then this one.

[Crazychurchill]

I enjoyed the Howling, it's one of my favorite horror films. That being said I just remembered that I don't have any were-wolf films on my Halloween Horror Marathon, well time to add a couple.

[Antonio141]

Much like Fright Night and Silver Bullet...the original Howling does not stand the test of time! Loved it when I was a kid, watched it again yesterday as part of my month-long horror movie marathon, and found it less than stellar! An American Werewolf In London did it so much better, but then again I haven't seen that one in years either. Maybe I should just remember some of these with the nostalgia I had for them in my youth. Brotherhood Of The Wolf is the best werewolf movie ever made.

[srbclarke]

I always hated this movie, I just don't like it.

Now the Howling II on the other hand, now that ladies and gentlemen, is gold.

[Dr.Frankenstein]

The original "The Howling" 1981 -the hype ever since has been about right IMO. The other films in this series-BOMBS,TRASH & whatever else U wanna add.

[MisoGenie]

Overrated? Blasphemy! The Howling is one of my all-time favorite werewolf films. I'd set it right up there with An American Werewolf in London, possibly even above it in terms of entertainment value. It may have been cheezy, but that's how I like my Horror. :)

[Danger^Cart]

The big transformation in the doctors office is fucking dope, and as a whole that entire scene works very well and it always made me feel really claustrophobic, so kudos. In it's entirety though? Meh.

Nowhere NEAR the masterpiece that is American Werewolf. That's fo sho.

[Superplasmatron]

it's clearly dated, it was awesome when i was a kid, i dare not watch it now

[MisoGenie]

I know that The Howling was somewhat of a slow-burn flick and all, but how could anyone deny that climax? Perhaps it's because this was my first traditional lycanthropic outing, but I adore everything about it!

[Kevin Smith fan]

I don't understand how this is overrated? I hardly hear anyone talk about this film anymore and its a shame. Of course the effects are dated, but who cares?! The visual storytelling of Joe Dante is incredible in this picture and the story is timeless. Would you rather watch Cursed?

Original art like this shouldn't be condemned because it hasn't been updated with the latest visual effects, it should be appreciated for what it is.

[MisoGenie]

^Kevin Smith fan knows what he's talking about. I've seen this all too many times with 80's classics that are now overlooked and underrated by today's audiences. It's just a shame not all of the iconic films of the generation managed to make the leap to modern cinema's short attention span. Although I'm almost positive that The Howling's relative obscurity today is half the reason it hasn't already been remade, so it could be a lot worse. Then again, with Fright Night and American Werewolf...Oh, God! :eek:

[DickJones]

I think it's a decent movie. It's just I find the build up to be too slow. It's still better than all it's shit sequels though and Rob Bottin did a great job as he always does.

[ggtimmo]

I think it was much scarier and provoked a little more fear when I was a kid watching it. Especially the scene in the doctors office. That always got me

[PSU80]

I hate this movie. The effects and shit were cool, but the story, script, acting etc was wack. It was barely watchable and very boring when people weren't dying. Piss poor. Check out SILVER BULLET if you want a good werewolf movie with a story. Sure, the wolf isn't that good, but with a cast acting their asses off, it's way more realistic and overall, alot more enjoyable.

Took the words right outta my mouth.

[poguesfan]

One of the best werewolf movies to come out during the early 1980s. Sure the story is somewhat plodding, but you just can't beat those awesome transformation sequences and effects. Plus, Dee Wallace Stone, was one of the prominent scream queens of the late 70s early 80s, and she never fails to disappoint. I love the cameos as well, everyone from Kevin McCarthy, Slim Pickens, to Dante regular Dick Miller (who has the best scene is the movie) are all on hand and seem to be enjoying themselves as well. I can see how some people might consider The Howling a bit boring; the action doesn't really pick up until midway through the film, but once it does it's very unrelenting. Along with Landis' "An American Werewolf In London," this is one of the best werewolf films ever made; and sorry to say they just don't make them like this anymore. Instead we have those awful "Underworld" films today. Now the less said about the sequels the better; although Sybil Danning is fucking hot as hell in the second Howling movie; god the rack on that lady is truly a sight to behold.