Review of The Howling (1981) by Johnny T — 05 Jan 2012

Rather than all-out fright, Wallace's reaction is somewhere in between curiosity and ambivalence (the rest of her performance is equally underwhelming). The former is a fun little horror flick, full of self-referential in-jokes and genuinely scary sequences. The Howling attempts a similar tack but to much less effective results, though it's hard not to appreciate Rob Bottin's astounding special effects work. Yet The Howling has its followers, and the film has since spawned several sequels. But with its slow pace and lack of compelling characters, it's hard not to wonder just what it is about the movie that fans have latched onto - though there's no denying that Bottin's work is as impressive as one might expect.

VERDICT: "Not So Hot" - [Negative Reaction] These films are truly terrible films. They are not the worst things ever made, but they are definitely awful and should not be seen by anyone. (Films that are rated 1.5 or 2 stars).