The Howling

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The Howling

R

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1h 31m

Horror

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Popcornmeter

75%

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44 Reviews

60%

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25,000+ Ratings

In Los Angeles, television journalist Karen White (Dee Wallace) is traumatized in the course of aiding the police in their arrest of a serial murderer. Her doctor recommends that she attend an isolated psychiatric retreat led by Dr. George Waggner (Patrick Macnee). But while Karen is undergoing therapy, her colleague Chris (Dennis Dugan), investigates the bizarre circumstances surrounding her shock. When his work leads him to suspect the supernatural, he begins to fear for Karen's life.

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Critics Consensus

The Howling packs enough laughs into its lycanthropic carnage to distinguish it from other werewolf entries, with impressive visual effects adding some bite.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

A perverse, satirical contribution to the oft-maligned werewolf genre.

Rated: B

Nov 6, 2005

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Ridiculous -- yes. Comical at times -- yes.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Paul Lê

Bloody Disgusting

Joe Dante’s ‘81 rendering is so distinct from its basis that it’s practically a different beast.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 10, 2025

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Kristy Strouse

Wonderfully Weird and Horrifying

Well performed, with convincing effects for its time, The Howling isn’t the best werewolf feature, but it’s required viewing for any fan.

Oct 26, 2022

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Tony Crawley

Starburst

Rob Bottin's Howling man-to-werewolf sequence is like nothing you've ever seen before. It's amazing!

Jul 27, 2022

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...still shocks and amuses in equal parts...

Rated: 4/5

Oct 27, 2021

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J H

I mean, she just stands there...

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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chris h

About average campy wolf movie...good and familar cast for the time...good old slim pickens.Must see if you like 80s horror.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

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CodyZamboni Z

Mostly effective comedy horror, with lots of cameos and in jokes, Truly disturbing opening scenes, Ground breaking makeup fx still hold up, But fustrating and dumb lead character decisions and reactions, ruin some of the fun.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

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Landon J

A great werewolf movie I think superior to contemporary rivals. Some great effects and light on exposition, heavy on supernatural transformations and creepy atmosphere.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

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Byron H

2/4 It's a noteworthy horror movie, memorable for revolutionizing the werewolf transformation. Oddly enough I think it's sequels are better.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/03/24

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Jacob B

While by no means a masterpiece and has flaws in places (the signature scene had me wondering why one of the characters was just staring; sure, she was shocked but the way the scene was dragged out had me wondering why she didn't just run; at least in Iron Man 2, the villain letting the briefcase armour scene occur was mainly because he was trying to prove a point), The Howling is still a good horror movie with groundbreaking special effects, a compelling, suspenseful story despite the whole lycanthropy thing being more of a twist for the characters than it is for the audience, a bookseller who's the best character on the movie despite only showing up in one scene and an effective ending despite some makeup issues. Even if you don't like this film, you have to admire it, alongside An American Werewolf in London, for not only making werewolves a creditable threat again but for also setting new standards for prosthetic makeup.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/21/24

Full Review

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Joe Dante

Director

Dee Wallace

Karen White

Patrick Macnee

Dr. George Waggner

Dennis Dugan

Chris

Christopher Stone

R. William (Bill) Neill

Belinda Balaski

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Synopsis

In Los Angeles, television journalist Karen White (Dee Wallace) is traumatized in the course of aiding the police in their arrest of a serial murderer. Her doctor recommends that she attend an isolated psychiatric retreat led by Dr. George Waggner (Patrick Macnee). But while Karen is undergoing therapy, her colleague Chris (Dennis Dugan), investigates the bizarre circumstances surrounding her shock. When his work leads him to suspect the supernatural, he begins to fear for Karen's life.

Director: Joe Dante
Producer: Daniel H. Blatt, Jack Conrad, Michael Finnell, Steven A. Lane
Screenwriter: Gary Brandner, John Sayles, Terence H. Winkless
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., AVCO Embassy Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 3, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 3, 2017
Runtime: 1h 31m