Still the best werewolf movie of all time - The Howling (1981) Discussion

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] LoPanKnows 13 years ago

No, just no. The Howling is a JOKE. The ONLY good part is when the werewolf kills the girl in the doctors office. American Werewolf in London kicks the anus of The Howling all up and down the halls of film. Let's see what other werewolf movies surpass The Howling? Bad Moon, Silver Bullet, The Wolfman, Dog Soldiers, Company of Wolves, Big Bad Wolf

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[–] WriteJoe72 12 years ago

Oh really? It's a joke? AWIL is better? Do you even understand thematic material? AWIL is a good movie but it basically adds humor to the tried and true WOLFMAN story from the 40s. THE HOWLING re-invents the werewolf genre to make them contemporary with startling results. First, it's not a curse at all to be a werewolf it is actually a gift and the empowerment the characters get from turning into werewolves is both ecstatic and orgasmic. The sexuality angle is played up very smartly. They have the power to change whenever they like day or night. The monsters are quite scary in comparison to the AWIL who runs on all fours and cannot tower above you like the creatures in this film. Subtext and thematically THE HOWLING is a classic because it mixes animalistic primal sexuality with horror. AWIL is a funny movie but it cannot even begin to reach the level of modern re-invention of the monsters that Dante's film does in spades. And that is a great credit to screenwriter John Sayles. Plus this is one of the very first movie to take multiple werewolves and utilize this as scary and horrific.

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[–] stones78 11 years ago

David Naughton is a terrible actor, and the his wolf looked like An American Warthog in London.

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[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

I'd still give the edge to the Lon Chaney films, which were really a product of their era, though this is excellent as well. 8/10 stars from me.

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[–] xxdirtynunxx 13 years ago

You have to be f'cking kidding me you idiot. You think this is the best? Obviously you don't know what the hell you are talking about. American Werewolf in London is by far the best ever made. With horrific scenes and amazing effects as well as a near flawless story that holds up even to this day. There barely a moment in the film that couldn't surpass most horror films. Let alone just werewolf films. I can't even believe you just posted this bullsh't.

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[–] zorn24601 13 years ago

'There barely a moment in the film that couldn't surpass most horror films.'

Except that there was nothing scary or suspensful. While 'The Howling' is guilty of a ton of in-jokes, the outright satire and humor in 'American Werewolf' makes it hard to take seriously as a horror movie.

Another problem I have with 'American Werewolf' is the whole ghost-of-the-friend side plot. I want a ghost movie, I'll see a ghost movie. I go to see a werewolf movie, I want werewolves. This is one case where, for me at least, you should keep your chocolate out of my peanut butter.

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[–] MonteCarloMan 13 years ago

Howling V is the best I have seen so far. The isolated in a blizzard centuries-old castle atmosphere coupled with the "10 little indians" plot with a werewolf in their midst was very effective suspense.

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[–] throwback69 13 years ago

Except that there was nothing scary or suspensful. While 'The Howling' is guilty of a ton of in-jokes, the outright satire and humor in 'American Werewolf' makes it hard to take seriously as a horror movie.

Couldn't have said it better. Guess I struck I nerve with you. Yeah, I thought I was watching a National Lampoon's movie but realized it was a horror movie called American Werewolf in London. The only horrific scene I saw was the worst ending of all time in American Werewolf in London.

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[–] Tales-from-the-Goondocks 13 years ago

I agree with you, but I still kind of like An American Werewolf in London, even thouogh is not that good.

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[–] Freedom_Spark 13 years ago

An American Werewolf in London is one of the best films ever made! Great writing, great performances, great transformation/effects what's not to like?

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail-R.W Emerson

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[–] psychocosmic-1 11 years ago

Come on! Its OK to like/love hem both. I can not see anything bad in AAWIL, it mainly has a great heart, a love story, a sad and not too unconvinving portrait of a guy with bad luck. Great! Howling! Is more for grown ups, who can handle that kind of humour, which never dulls the suspense and horror! Two great werewolf pics for 1980-1981!

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[–] MsJackieO 11 years ago

I know. I never understand these stupid rivalries - Star Wars vs Star Trek, Bond vs Bourne, AWIL vs The Howling. They're both great movies and both are stronger in certain areas. I also appreciate the different tacks each film took - ensuring that across the 2 all our needs get fulfilled. Eg: AWIL features a more savage beast, The Howling features better werewolves. AWIL features a victim of circumstance, The Howling werewolves embrace their lycanthropy, AWIL has quick and shocking attack scenes, The Howling has long, ominous tension building attack scenes etc etc etc.

I love 'em both. But The Howling has a bit more of a special place in my heart but really, it;s like choosing between an Aston Martin and a Bentley. Either way, you're not gonna make a bad choice.

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[–] psychocosmic-1 11 years ago

Very well said MsJackieO!

And when you think about it, how many great werewolf movies were made before or since these two gems? I must admit that Paul Nashy´s werewolf in, for example, Werewolf vs the Vampirewomen (La Noche Del Walpurgis), is the most ferocious one Ive seen, but there were not many other color lycanthropfilms that can match those two mentioned.

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[–] Karl_Wolfgang_47 11 years ago

I agree. The Howling is definitely the best werewolf movie.

An American Werewolf in London is one of the worst movies I have ever seen.

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[–] ultravio13 11 years ago

I saw the Howling when it first came out in 81, and loved it. I went to see it a few times in the theatre during its first run.
I saw and liked American Werewolf in London as well. But I liked the Howling more, and thought its transformation sequence was better. But they were both great movies.

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[–] ElectricWarlock 11 years ago

I just watched this film today. Out of all of the werewolf movies I've seen, this has to be my favorite. It is the most satisfying film I've seen in a very long time. When the movie ended, I wanted it to keep going on because I was interested every single moment. It's very rare that I feel that way about a movie because even with my favorites I look at the clock about every ten minutes. But with this movie I was drawn to the screen and couldn't take my eyes from it. The story is interesting, the acting was good, the special effects are amazing, and I loved the ending. Everything about it was great and I do think someone could make a case for it being the best werewolf movie of all time.

Death lives in the Vault of Horror!

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[–] 11 years ago

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