Movies - The Howling

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	Movies - The Howling

The Howling is a 1981 horror film directed by Joe Dante. Based on the novel by Gary Brandner, the film is written by John Sayles and Terence H. Winkless. The original music score is composed by Pino Donaggio

Tagline: Imagine your worst fear a reality.

Plot summary

Television reporter/anchor Karen White is taking part in a dangerous police operation intended to trap psychopath Eddie Quist. When confronted by Eddie face-to-face, she witnesses something horrifying enough to trigger selective amnesia.

Plagued by a series of violent nightmates, Karen decides to admit herself to a posh recovery resort known as "the Colony", run by her eccentric New Age therapist Dr. George Waggner, and bring along her husband R. William "Bill" Neill for support. The night after they arrive, Karen and Bill are unnerved by eerie howling in the woods. Back in Los Angeles, Chris Dugan and Terry Fisher have been investigating Eddie's background after discovering that his body has disappeared from the morgue. Sifting through Eddie's possessions, they find a strange collection of artwork depicting wolf-like creatures, and decides to consult with Walter Paisley, the owner of an occult bookshop, on werewolf lore. Though he claims not to believe in the stuff he's selling, Paisley nevertheless convinces Chris to purchase a handful of silver bullets... just in case.

Back at the Colony, Dr. Waggner has organized a hunting party after hearing Karen's account of the nocturnal howling, but the men find nothing but a rabbit, which Bill is told to bring to the cabin of the sultry Marsha Quist to prepare for dinner. After resisting Marsha's less-than-subtle sexual overtures, Bill is attacked by a wolf while returning to his cabin. The following moonlit night, the sleepless Bill wanders finds Marsha waiting and the two make love by the campfire, their bodies undergoing a frightening transformation. Just as Karen is beginning to suspect that her husband is hiding a secret far more threatening than marital infidelity, Chris and Terry have come to realize; too late in Terry's case; that Eddie Quist is not only still alive, but not quite human... and he knows he's being followed. Chris arrives at the Colony too late to save Terry, but manages to find Karen just as the Colony's residents; all of whom are werewolves including Dr. Waggner; are assembling to decide her fate.

Main cast

Dee Wallace-Stone
- Karen White
Patrick Macnee
- Dr. George Waggner
Dennis Dugan
- Chris Dugan
Belinda Balaski
- Terry Fisher
Christopher Stone
- R. William "Bill" Neill
Kevin McCarthy
- Fred Francis
John Carradine
- Erle Kenton
Slim Pickens
- Sam Newfield
Robert Picardo
- Eddie Quist
Dick Miller
- Walter Paisley
Elisabeth Brooks
- Marsha Quist
Noble Willingham
- Charlie Barton
Kenneth Tobey
- Older Cop
Jim McKrell - Lew Landers

Background information

The film was followed by six sequels. The last was in 1995.
The film won the 1980 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film.
Robert Picardo
, Dick Miller
, Noble Willingham
and Kenneth Tobey
all later appeared in the Star Trek spin-offs.
Though the film was applauded for its witty screenplay, it began life as a rather mundane 1977 novel by Gary Brandner. After drafts by Jack Conrad (the original director who left following difficulties with the studio) and Terence H. Winkless proved unsatisfactory, director Joe Dante hired John Sayles to completely rewrite the script.
It was the first werewolf movie ever to show the transformation from man to wolf without the use of camera dissolve.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for The Howling ]

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