13 Nights of Hallowe'en 2009: Night #7 The Howling

There are two kinds of people in the world. There are those that think An American Werewolf in London is the best werewolf movie ever, and those that know The Howling is the best. The first compliment I give The Howling is to call it a piece of cinema in the best sense. It's not one of the many psuedo-documentary style movies (that doesn't mean the shaky cam reality show style movies either), though that style is often put to good use. The Howling instead is layered. It has that through the camera's eye touch of surrealism to it, but isn't strange or off-kilter. It's scripted, and measured, something more than a movie or a flick. Beyond that it pays homage to not only its predecessors and the creators influences but also to itself with multiple werewolf allusions throughout.

The Howling is something of a who's who or horror. One exception is Robert Picardo who is more known for his roles on shows like Star Trek: Voyager and Stargate: Atlantis--his role in 976-EVIL comes years later. He plays Eddie Quist who sparks the whole thing with horror staple and star Dee Wallace. There are bit parts and cameos by the likes of John Carradine, Dick Miller, Forrest J. Ackerman, and Roger Corman. Of course director Joe Dante is well known for the Gremlins movies. Rob Bottin's werewolf transformation special effects are astounding and one of the points of disagreement between The Howling fans and American Werewolf fans. The werewolves Rob has brought to life are frightening in the extreme and really bring the horror to this movie.

Mood: wild.

Music: Uncle Jack by Motley Crue of off Motley Crue.