Review of The Howling (1981) by Brian B — 11 Feb 2009

Well, this movie didn't entirely suck, but it's not entirely good. On the downside, the acting is terrible, dialogue hokey, plot flimsy, and more, "hey I found a boom pole!" claims than I can remember in any other film I've seen lately. And what gives with the werewolf pomeranian at the end?

And now onto the goods: the effects are to die for (no pun intended . . . fuck it. Pun intended.). Rob Bottin, the master craftsman himself, has made some of the coolest werewolf costumes I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of werewolf movies in my time. The question of media and violence is vaguely addressed here . . . in the background. All in all, it's a cheap, fun movie to watch on a Halloween night, or if you're really bored. Or (the less likely of them all) if you're a hardcore Joe Dante fan. If you are, then I pity you.