MovieChat Forums > The Howling (1981) Discussion > I can't believe anyone thinks this is be...

I can't believe anyone thinks this is better than AAWiL...

posted 12 years ago by daughterofolaf
14 replies | jump to latest

I'm exaggerating, but seriously, the effects are laughable and the characters' actions make no sense, even for a horror movie.

It looks like someone saw An American Werewolf in London, it blew their skirt up with its awesomeness so they decided to try to do the same thing (in terms of effects) but kinda failed. I don't think the work here is even comparable.

This is not the worst movie ever or anything like that and it has a decent cast, some of them are kickass but it is second rate when it comes to story and makeup. I'm sure I'll upset people who love it but I just don't get it...

"Rock 'n roll martian!"

[–] SeanJoyce 12 years ago

1981 was a banner year for for horror films, and the werewolf subgenre in particular was given a substantial boost with the twin releases of The Howling and An American Werewolf in London.

Anybody with half a brain would concede the fact that they're the creme-de-la-creme when it comes to lycanthrope outings on screen. They're entirely different films, and cinema needed both of them.

As for this:

It looks like someone saw An American Werewolf in London, it blew their skirt up with its awesomeness so they decided to try to do the same thing

The Howling beat its lupine competition by a few months...

"...if that was off, I'd be whoopin' your ass up and down this street." ~ an irate Tarantino

[–] Hey_Sweden 12 years ago

For the record, I do like AAWiL more, but I still enjoy this one a good deal.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] ElectricWarlock 11 years ago

Well, I like both films and think they're some of the finest werewolf movies out there.

Death lives in the Vault of Horror!

[–] bpollen 11 years ago

The Howling was released before AAWIL. They're both good. But they're different kinds of movies. AAWIL is a comedy-horror, while The Howling is a straight up horror film.

Both of the transitions into werewolf scenes are listed as among the best in werewolf movies, on sites that are devoted to such things. I think The Howling tops the list, with AAWIL second, but it could be the other way around. They're both great transition scenes.

I think the meanest werewolf in Howling is scarier than the AAWIL werewolf. I mean, the AAWIL werewolf is in love. But that subway tunnel scene gets me every time.

They're both great!

[–] JoeytheBrit 11 years ago

It's a case of the sorcerer's apprentice. Rick Baker, who was due to do the sfx on this movie, left to work on An American Werewolf in London, leaving his protege Rob Bottin to,do the effects work on this movie. Although The Howling was released first, AAWIL was in the can before The Howling went on general release. In all honesty, I can't see how anyone can favourably compare the werewolf transformation in this movie to Baker's work on AAWIL.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] stones78 10 years ago

I prefer The Howling, easily, over the angry Warthog in London.

[–] VidaBoheme 10 years ago

Honestly, they're both great werewolf movies IMO. They both have dark humor and for 1981, I thought the werewolves in each film were incredibly scary (hey, I was just a little kid!).

I prefer these types of werewolves to any CGI crap they've given us in the last decade or more (Underworld, Van Helsing, Cursed, AAWiParis). In fact, both the Howling and AAWiL may be the last great werewolf movies?

[–] stones78 10 years ago

Van Helsing was a major disappointment.

[–] theTRUTH-hurts 10 years ago

It looks like someone saw An American Werewolf in London, it blew their skirt up with its awesomeness so they decided to try to do the same thing

The Howling was wrapped with production and completed before American Werewolf even began filming.