The Howling, 1980

All three were responsible for re-inventing the classic horror film character of The Wolfman... but in completely different and original ways.

A curious bit of info... The Howling had Rob Bottin as its make-up effects genius (along with associate producer), along with Rick Baker as the consultant... who went on to do the work for American Werewolf later that year, winning the academy award for best make-up in 1982. Pretty neat. Both men, though, had nothing to do with Wolfen.

The Howling is directed by one of those filmmakers who took off in the 1980's, around producers like Spielberg, Kennedy and Marshall... Joe Dante, director of fantastic films like Gremlins (I and II), Twilight Zone: The Movie, Explorers, Innerspace, The 'burbs, Matinee and Small Soldiers. He's working on something called Haunted Lighthouse, to come out in 2002, written by Batman scribe Sam Hamm. We shall see.

In Dante's earlier films, you could see an adult humor. With the subject matter, his work appealed to a larger audience than anticipated... and after Gremlins, he could do no wrong. There is some fantastic work in The Howling. I was blown away by some of the more simple ideas that must have taken the audiences by complete surprise when it was originally released. Seeing the film now... I can see how films in the future, once the horror genre goes back to the classics, will use films like this as reference points for re-creating a legendary character... and re-inventing it for the better.

Gary Brander wrote the novel that turned into the film. He's also written another novel that turned into a film... From the Dead of NIght, a made-for-tv film from 1989 starring Lindsay Wagner... He was also credited with a screenplay in 1989 called Cameron's Closet. Never heard of either of them.

Two writers helped pen the script. Terence Winkless has been writing and directing films for a few years, The Howling being his first published writing. He went on to direct a lot of television, along with some b-movies. Nothing familiar.

The other writer of this film is a legend in the film industry, John Sayles. One of Sayles first writing jobs (credited with both story and script) was Piranha, directed by Dante. He would write a few other films, including Return of the Secaucus 7, which he would direct, in 1980. It would start one of the greatest independent film careers in the last twenty years.

He would go on to write other films that he would not direct, including Battle Beyond the Stars, Alligator, The Challange and Clan of the Cave Bears. But it's his own films that would truly make a name for him... making him one of the most well respected writer/directors in the industry.

Matewan, Eight Men Out, City of Hope, Passion Fish, Roan Inish, Lone Star, Men with Guns, Limbo and his soon to be released Sunshine State. His films are anticipated the world over... and you can recognize the fine writing, the suspense, the wonderful dialog from The Howling... the work of a fledgling writer who was trying to concentrate on his own work... who was asked to write a werewolf movie... and produced something much more.

To be honest... the acting in this film is only so-so. It's not great, it's not bad... the majority of the time it puts a back burner, especially once the second act starts. You feel the atmosphere and the suspense take over the film, and the actors are just vehicles to the next scene. I know how silly that statement might sound, but if you watch the film... you're just looking for the next werewolf and the next piece of the puzzle. You really don't care about the main actress, who is portrayed by Dee Wallace-Stone (from E.T).

John Hora was the cinematographer for this film. His work, especially at this stage in Hollywood history, with make-up and special effects, was quite competent. It's not incredible filmmaking, and the shots aren't so fantastic, but there are some great moments captured in this film... and I think that the responsibility of why this film succeeded should be shared by Bottin, Dante and Hora.

Hora would then go on to help Dante make Twilight Zone, Gremlins, Explorers and Matinee (along with Gremlins 2). He would also go on to shoot Moonwalker for Michael Jackson in 1988.

Dante was also responsible for helping the editing of this film, along side Mark Goldblatt, who has edited some of the biggest money-making films in the last fifteen years. His career reads like a dream, his first work alongside Dante in Piranha... after which he worked on two other films before The Howling. From there, his mainstream work would steadily increase. Enter the Ninja, Halloween II were two of his other springboards, but it wasn't until 1984 that he would hook up with James Cameron and edit what would be one of the definitive science-fiction films ever, The Terminator. From there, his work exploded. Rambo II, Commando, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Nightbreed, Predator 2, Terminator 2, The Last Boy Scout, True Lies, Showgirls, Starship Troopers, Armageddon, Detroit Rock City, Hollow Man and most recently, Pearl Harbor. A fantastic editor, who is trusted by some of the most prominent directors in the business.

Is this a good film? Hell yes. It's very well done. It's suspenseful, it's got great special effects... and it was when movies were trying to be as serious as they possibly could... trying to usher in a new wave of filmmakers, of technology... a new generation of talent.

go to top of page