Review of Howling (2012) by Jesse O — 20 Aug 2012

I thought this was a pretty good movie. The concept could've potentially been very silly and, in a way, it still was but I felt that all things considered the concept worked about as well as it would have.

No more, no less. Of course the only reason I watched this was because of Song Kang-ho who, if you've followed my reviews (and realistically who has...I simply do this out of ego, apparently), is one of my favorite actors.

And of course he doesn't disappoint in this movie. It's not one of his best roles, but that's only because the character doesn't really require much of his talents. It's not a role that highlights what he can do.

He was still good though. The movie opens up with the typical new kid on the block who's partnered up with a veteran. The veteran doesn't want a partner. Of course the fact that she's a woman also opens up the whole sexism issue.

So it's standard stuff realistically and the movie was sort of lacking in the first half because of this. The second half definitely picks up as you get more story and what actually happened. Again, it's not anything mind-blowing, but it works.

And, as a dog owner, they definitely found a way to make me sad at the turn of events by the end of the movie. Of course you didn't need the sad music, it was sad enough as it is, but I've gotten used to these movies trying to manipulate my feelings.

It's, apparently, one of the foundations of South Korean cinema. Really the movie isn't going to re-invent the wheel as far as suspense movies go, and really as far as good movies go this is on the lower end of that.

It just barely makes the rating that it has, so I wouldn't exactly recommend it.