Howling
This 1981 werewolf horror movie (released around the same time as the masterpiece An American Werewolf In London) certainly floats around some ideas that are quite potent (the idea that lycanthropy can be the ultimate form of breaking away from all repression), but for the most part misses the mark with some blown opportunities and questionable acting. This is best represented by the casting of Dee Wallace (best known as E.T.âs Mom) in the lead: Delivering her lines in a breathless, Minnie Mouse-style cadence, itâs pretty clear that she is simply unable to carry the picture with her airhead presence, spending many of her key scenes laying in bed after a nightmare, and not even mustering any real tangible fear when a man has a two-minute transformation into a werewolf in front of her. Worst, when we arrive at the (admittedly legendary) ending, what could have packed an amazing emotional punch is tempered down by the fact that we donât really care either way about her character. Wallace plays a TV news anchor in LA who becomes the obsessive focal point for a werewolf serial killer (Robert Picardo) who also happens to be a sexual psychopath. After setting a trap for the killer in a traumatic experience, it is recommended that she go away to a therapeutic retreat known as âThe Colonyâ, run by a famous psychiatrist (Patrick Macnee) who just seems a little too friendly and jovial. Right there the John Sayles screenplay hits two serious snags, first with the Picardo character: Itâs pretty obvious that his sicko is not only the most interesting player, but the only time the film ever becomes actually SCARY is whenever he is onscreen, whether it be his twisted obsession with Wallace or giving her âa piece of his mindâ (literally) or ruthlessly mocking the would-be hero, the film would have been better served to have him be more of the focus of the film instead of its ditsy heroine, at least if they intended the movie to be more frightening than it actually is. The second issue is the Colony itself: itâs obvious that director Joe Dante intends it to be a satire of the late 70s / early 80s âself-help guruâ craze, but instead it gives the story a dated quality, plus an element of cheese when it comes out (no surprise) that it is actually a meeting den for the werewolf cult. The film also suffers from pacing issues after Wallace arrives, with long stretches where nothing happens save for when Wallace cringes in fright from the various scary noises coming from the woods at night (with enough creepy animal sounds and bumps to fill a haunted house). Things get better with the last twenty minutes when the cat gets out of the bag so to speak, but the overall somewhat goofy tone hurts the mood greatly and makes for an uneven mix (unlike American Werewolf which was a horror film first and foremost with a sense of humor at the right times). There is actually quite a good supporting cast on hand with mixed results: Macnee is genial enough to put over his characterâs notion that werewolves should learn to âblend inâ and live off cattle instead of feeding on humans; future Adam Sandler director Dennis Dugan come off as pretty wimpy even as he rides to the rescue with a shotgun full of silver bullets; Wallaceâs late real-life husband Christopher Stone tries to project a Tom Atkins-like manliness as her husband in the film, but doesnât have the acting chops to make the viewer care; Belinda Balaski is cute and spunky as Wallaceâs best friend who tries to figure out whatâs going on; Kevin McCarthy once again makes a great asshole as the TV News Stationâs General Manager; John Carradine is rather annoying as the kooky old man in the Colony; Slim Pickens walks through his role as the local sheriff; and Elisabeth Brooks is amazingly beautiful and sexy as the werewolf woman who seduces the husband into the cult. Why this actress (who died from brain cancer in 1997) didnât have more of a career is a great mystery (think Angelina Jolie look-alike only ten times as sexy). The film also features some quick cameos and bit parts for genre legends like Kenneth Tobey, Noble Willingham, Forrest J. Ackerman, Roger Corman, and best of all Dick âMr. Futtermanâ Miller doing his usual fast-talking used-car salesman schtick as an occult book store owner (after quickly explaining the rules of the werewolf mythology he is asked if he believes in any of it only to reply âHey! Iâm just trying to make a buck here!â). Overall, a remembered horror flick with a deserved cult following, just not as good as many say it isâŚ
5/10