IMDb > The Howling (1981)
The Howling
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The Howling (1981) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 3 NEW)
The Howling (1981) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   7,762 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Gary Brandner (novel)
John Sayles (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Howling on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 April 1981 (USA) more
Tagline:
Imagine your worst fear a reality
Plot:
After a bizarre and near fatal encounter with a serial killer, a newswoman is sent to a rehabilitation center whose inhabitants may not be what they seem. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
2 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(83 articles)
The Howling To Be Reborn
 (From HeyUGuys. 25 November 2009, 9:48 AM, PST)

Remake of The Howling sharpens claws for Halloween 2010
 (From The Geek Files. 24 November 2009, 5:16 AM, PST)

User Comments:
AAAHHHOOOO... werewolves of California. more (161 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Dee Wallace ... Karen White
Patrick Macnee ... Dr. George Waggner

Dennis Dugan ... Chris
Christopher Stone ... R. William 'Bill' Neill

Belinda Balaski ... Terry Fisher
Kevin McCarthy ... Fred Francis
John Carradine ... Erle Kenton
Slim Pickens ... Sam Newfield
Elisabeth Brooks ... Marsha Quist

Robert Picardo ... Eddie Quist
Margie Impert ... Donna
Noble Willingham ... Charlie Barton

James Murtaugh ... Jerry Warren
Jim McKrell ... Lew Landers
Kenneth Tobey ... Older Cop
Don McLeod ... T.C. Quist
Dick Miller ... Walter Paisley - Bookstore Owner
Steve Nevil ... Young Cop
Herbie Braha ... Porno Cashier (as Herb Braha)
Joe Bratcher ... Radio Man
Bill Sorrells ... Kline
Meshach Taylor ... Shantz (as Mesach Taylor)
Ivan Saric ... Jack Molina
Sarina C. Grant ... Hooker (as Sarina Grant)
Chico Martínez ... Man on Street
Daniel Núñez ... Liquor Cashier (as Daniel Nunez)
Michael O'Dwyer ... Drunk
Wendell Wright ... Man at Bar
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Forrest J Ackerman ... Bookstore Customer (uncredited)

Robert A. Burns ... Porn store patron (uncredited)
Roger Corman ... Man in Phone Booth (uncredited)

Jonathan Kaplan ... Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)

John Sayles ... Morgue Attendant (uncredited)
Beverly Warren ... Extra (uncredited)
Bill Warren ... Extra (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Joe Dante 
 
Writing credits
Gary Brandner (novel)

John Sayles (screenplay) and
Terence H. Winkless (screenplay)

Produced by
Daniel H. Blatt .... executive producer
Rob Bottin .... associate producer
Jack Conrad .... producer
Michael Finnell .... producer
Steven A. Lane .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Pino Donaggio 
 
Cinematography by
John Hora (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Joe Dante 
Mark Goldblatt 
 
Casting by
Susan Arnold 
Judith Weiner 
 
Art Direction by
Robert A. Burns 
 
Costume Design by
Jack Buehler 
 
Makeup Department
Rick Baker .... special makeup effects consultant
Joe Beserra .... makeup effects studio artist
Rob Bottin .... special makeup effects creator
Greg Cannom .... special makeup effects artist
Bill Davis .... assistant makeup artist
Tina Kline .... contact lens technician (as Tina Klein)
Shawn McEnroe .... first makeup effects assistant
Medusah .... assistant hair stylist (as Anne Aulenta-Spira)
Medusah .... assistant makeup artist (as Anne Aulenta-Spira)
Art Pimentel .... second makeup effects assistant
Margaret Prentice .... makeup effects studio artist (as Margaret Beserra)
Josephine Turner .... special hair work
Josephine Turner .... wig maker
Gigi Williams .... hair stylist
Gigi Williams .... makeup artist
Steve LaPorte .... special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Bill Sturgeon .... creature effects crew (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Peter Manoogian .... second unit manager
Jack C. Smith .... unit manager
David C. Thomas .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Cummins .... first assistant director
Jack Cummins .... second unit director
Jon Davison .... second unit director
Nancy King .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Mary Church .... art assistant
Ivo Cristante .... property master
Richard Heskox .... production illustrator
Steven Legler .... set designer (as Steve Legler)
Frank Ventrola .... production illustrator
 
Sound Department
Ken King .... production sound mixer
Douglas Vaughan .... boom operator
 
Special Effects by
Doug Beswick .... special mechanical effects
Kevin Brennan .... special effects makeup
Roger George .... special effects
Morton Greenspoon .... creative contact lens effects (as Morton K. Greenspoon)
Jeff Shank .... effects unit line producer
Steve Shank .... effects unit line producer
 
Visual Effects by
Dave Allen .... stop motion animation (as David Allen)
Peter Kuran .... love scene and main title animation: Visual Concept Engineering
Mike Warren .... optical effects
Pam Vick .... cel animator (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Carmen Babnick .... stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour .... stunts (as Bruce Barbour)
Roger Creed .... stunt coordinator
Marneen Fields .... stunt performer
John Moio .... stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano .... utility stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Norman Cattell .... first assistant camera
Doug Cragoe .... grip (as Douglas Cragoe)
Matia Karrell .... electrician
Laurel Moore .... still photographer
John C. Murray .... gaffer
Stephen L. Posey .... camera operator: second unit (as Stephen Posey)
Ronald Raschke .... second assistant camera
Ted Rhodes .... best boy grip
Richard 'Rico' Sands .... electrician (as Rick Sands)
Richard 'Rico' Sands .... grip (as Rick Sands)
Roger Sassen .... best boy electric
Kurt Young .... key grip
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy G. Fox .... wardrobe supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Kent Beyda .... associate film editor
Alan Toomayan .... assistant film editor
 
Music Department
Chris Carney .... composer: song "Rocky Mountain Waltz"
Joyce Fienhage .... composer: song "Howling Chicken"
Rick Fienhage .... composer: song "Howling Chicken"
Marshall Leib .... music coordinator (as Marshall Lieb)
Natale Massara .... conductor
 
Other crew
Allen Alsobrook .... production assistant
Donald P. Borchers .... production associate
Frank Capra III .... production assistant
Susan Gelb .... production accountant
Frank Gomon .... television material provided by
Robert Jellen .... insurance (as Bob Jellen)
Stephan Kertesz .... production assistant
Sherri Lubov .... production assistant
John Ott .... production assistant
Jeanne Rosenberg .... script supervisor
Jack C. Smith .... location manager
Terry Smulen .... assistant to producer
Michael Takacs .... television technical advisor
Mark Tarnawsky .... production assistant
Stokely Van Camp .... television material provided by
 
Thanks
Forrest J Ackerman .... special thanks
Jane Alsobrook .... special thanks
Jamie Anderson .... special thanks
Paul Bartel .... special thanks
Michael Chapman .... special thanks
Roger Corman .... special thanks
Mick Garris .... special thanks
Gary Graver .... special thanks
Jonathan Kaplan .... special thanks
Sylvia Neil .... special thanks
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
91 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1981) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2004) | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | New Zealand:R16 | UK:(Banned) (Special Edition DVD) | New Zealand:(Banned) (Special Edition DVD) | UK:R (Special Edition DVD) | France:-12 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1984) | Norway:(Banned) (1981-2003) (cinema release)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
To add to the hidden puns throughout this film, there is a book placed near a phone during one scene: Allen Ginsberg's "Howl". more
Goofs:
Continuity: Werewolf Eddie needed to press the Play and Record button at the same time to record Terry's attack. But only the Play button was pressed down. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Dr. George Waggner: Repression. Repression is the father of neurosis, of self-hatred. Now, stress results when we fight against our impulses. We've all heard people talk about animal magnetism, the natural man. the noble savage, as if we'd lost something valuable in our long evolution into civilized human beings. Now there's a good reason for this.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Dead End (1985) more

FAQ

Is there are longer version available of The Howling?
more
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
AAAHHHOOOO... werewolves of California., 27 January 2006
10/10
Author: SickBoySimon from Brentwood, USA

Terrific modern werewolf film from director Joe Dante remains one of his best movies.

News Anchor has a terrifying encounter with a lunatic murderer, then decides to seek rest in an isolated colony of weird characters. It's about to become a hairy situation!

Writer John Sayles (who does a humorous cameo as a morgue attendant) makes The Howling a clever and deeply spooky picture with some nicely tongue-in-cheek humor. The story references lots of old-school horror movies, notice how many of the characters in this movie are named after directors of old werewolf films. Dante lends some well-crafted direction, giving the movie a truly haunting atmosphere. He builds some great suspense and the occasional good shock. The art direction by Robert Burns is also quite good, making for some creepy settings. Rob Bottin's makeup FX are impressive and frightening. Pino Donaggio's music score is splendidly dramatic.

Dee Wallace Stone does a strong performance as the film's troubled heroine. Patrick Macnee, Dennis Dugan, Belinda Balaski, and Christoper Stone are also good in their supporting roles. Elisabeth Brooks and Robert Picardo make for some truly scary villains.

Along with Landis's great American Werewolf in London, which ironically came out the same year as this film, The Howling ranks as one of the very best modern werewolf movies!

**** out of ****

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