The Howling (or B-movie version of An American Werewolf in London?)

The Howling was a movie directed by Joe Dante who would later go on to do movies like Gremlins, making him a top director for 80s kids, I’m sure.

Dante actually started his career out as a flunky for film icon Roger Corman, who makes an awesome(ly long) cameo appearance in this film that’s pretty awesome for anyone who knows and loves Corman (He’s waiting for a woman to finish using the pay phone and when he uses it, checks to see if their is any change in the slot before using his own money (so Corman)

Released the same year as An american Werewolf in London, but a few mouths before does not make The Howling a b-movie version of the John Landis film per say, no, more feels like someone saw the Howling and was influenced to make a… different version. Not how Corman usually operates but the Howling is not a movie he produced, but what Corman does do and that Dante must have taken a queue from is that he slides in his usual suspects into the film.

In this case it’s actor, Dick Miller, a regular on a Roger Corman film set since the producer started to make movies. He and Dante must have become friends while making films with Corman which is why Miller appeared in this flick as a man who runs a book store ( a critical role in the movie as he specializes in books on the supernatural. There was nothing collier than hearing this Bronx native lay down this films rules on Werewolves). Miller also appears in Gremlins as Murray (I should point out Miller had a small role in The Terminator directed by James Cameron who also got his start with Roger Corman as a special effects man (Dick must know how to make friends).

In comparison to American Werewolf, I feel that the Howling has a very artistic style to it. The effects used to make the werewolf feel more like comic book art or anime like animation as it’s not extremely detailed in it’s hunting only detailed in the scary.

Both movies seem to be equal in communicating horror and humor with the Howling being more sad, scary and sarcastic. one scene in particular in which a woman is closed in by a werewolf in a medical office. The scene is very comical at times without being…disrespectful to the fact that this chick is being murdered slowly (cause life can be fucked up that way)

The Howling is a good horror film with a good monster. Great make up effects and humorously dark.