The Howling

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The Howling

R

1981

1h 31m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

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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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It offers an interesting take with inventive effects (thanks to Rob Bottin), impressive moments of horror, an undercurrent of dark humor, and an earthy, feral sensibility.

Oct 25, 2025

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John Ferguson

Radio Times

Co-writer John Sayles and director Joe Dante have huge fun turning werewolf clichés on their head in this rare beast - a horror film that gore fans and film buffs can enjoy.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 2, 2025

Full Review

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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steve

Absolute CLASSIC werewolf flick!!! Worth the watch for old school nostalgia 80s horror.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

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Kim P

The female werewolf looks more glamorous than half the women I ever dated. Hard to look scary when you're done up like you belong on the cover of Elle or Cosmopolitan. Pretty much knocked the movie down a notch in my estimation.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/01/25

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Julian C.

Although slow in its pace, The Howling has great werewolf practical effects and a great performance from Dee Wallace

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/17/25

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Titus A

This and An American Werewolf in London are by far the best werewolf movies of all time. Especially in there originality. And the special effects were amazing for their time in both movies. Both the Howling and aAWiL had very different and yet wholly original stories / takes on the werewolf story legend. The old school actors in this are amazing: John Carradine. Patrick Macnee. Slim Pickins. And Kevin McCarthy. Along with the wonderful Dee Wallace. This horror movie still holds up all these years.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/25

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Melissa L

This movie is a classic.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/02/25

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de terror são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/17/25

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: AVCO Embassy Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Image Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
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

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