The Howling is a clever werewolf movie. It's very self-aware, but unlike some films which recognize their context, this one doesn't get bogged down with marking the cliches. It simply operates smartly in a the broader scheme, and offers its alternative.
The main notion of course is that werewolves are among us and like many folks in the modern world have to find a way to fit into a modern world that might not immediately seem friendly. The werewolves of The Howling aren't limited by things like full moons, but are susceptible to silver bullets and the can be burned. That is if they pose a threat, which as it turns out not all of them do.
I assume most folks have seen this 1980's classic, so I'll not offer up any technical spoilers. On the off chance you haven't, tread carefully past this point.
The key to the success of this movie, and fully intentional according to Joe Dante the director, is that they didn't want the thing to become a werewolf movie immediately. The story begins like a crime drama dealing with a serial killer (Robert Picardo) who contacts a pretty and famous TV reporter to shout out the world. The meeting turns tragic and the killer is "killed" and the reporter traumatized. She and her husband fall into the care of a psychologist (Patrick MacNee) who sends to "The Colony", a remote area where his patients are recuperating.
The place is riddled with werewolves, in fact the only ones not already infected are the reporter and her husband. The killer returns, more reporters get involved and quite a bit of death and mayhem ensue. The ending ain't really a happy one by any stretch, but is oddly satisfying for a horror flick.
Dee Wallace Stone is the reporter and she fairly glows in this very early part. Apparently it was this role that got her noticed and in E.T. where she became briefly a household name. Her fiance plays her husband in this this one, and they do in fact get married and were so for many years until his death.
The highlight of this movie for me though is always John Carradine. He's simply outstanding in a medium-size role as an older werewolf who is trying to find a way to fill out his remaining days with some dignity. His struggle is really the essence of what the story is about, and his age suggests he's the kind of werewolf we are all familiar with from the old movies. He does some dandy acting in a role that must have hit close to home for an actor of his years and experience.
The Howling is a movie that most often gets discussed because of its special effects. That stuff frankly bores me. I like good special effects, but rarely do I watch a movie just for that. The story has to work, and the solid story and really good acting in The Howling gets overlooked as just a good movie I think as people discuss yet again how impressive the transformation scenes are. They are, but without the story it doesn't matter.
If you haven't seen this one in a while, I highly recommend it.
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