The Howling Review – This One’s Got Some Hair On Its…Back
Matt Boiselle
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Starring Maria Austin, Jon-Paul Gates, Tiffany-Ellen Robinson
Directed by Steven M. Smith
While not attempting to hold a candle to the 1981 film of the same name, Steven M. Smith’s The Howling is still a fun independent horror movie that should evoke (in a minimalist sense) some memories of the yesteryear screamers – a worthwhile flick that has some poke in its choppers, for sure.
Drubbed-out of almost all color (a few exceptions here and there), the movie is set in Essex, and trails a young woman (Robinson) and her boyfriend (Eirik Knutsvik) who grab their slightly nerdy pal (Austin) in the hopes of uncovering the legend of Doctor Rathbone, who supposedly has the creative know-how to reinvigorate the recently deceased. Ah hell, let me cut out the B.S – the guy’s got the claim to be the next Dr. Frankenstein, or at least that’s what the chatter is all about. So, we’ve got our fearless trio of conspiracy-theory shakers, complete with recording equipment to snag any evidence that might support the inane claims of the demented doctor (YouTube, here they come), and once the triumvirate hits the woods, the simple game plan of “investigate and document” proves to be quite the horrific undertaking.
The film is low on production-value, and that cannot be mistaken – however, you cannot shrug off the intent of this movie, which is obviously meant to pay tribute to the old-timey Saturday afternoon shock-theater displays, and the captive allure they promised when we all tuned in on our idiot boxes. Mid-line performances and some decent gore sequences are nice additions to this distant cousin to Doctor Moreau – why is it that these kooks feel the need to live near the ends of existence in order to perfect their creations? I guess distance from the masses truly is the key, and for the most part, The Howling is a fun watch, especially for those who’ve wanted to construct an indie-film on a small allotment, both cash and time-wise. Will this presentation blow you out of the water? I wouldn’t think so, but it should be enough to suffice with the lights off on a Saturday night.
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Film
Summary
Who says you have to have millions in the bank to put on a good show? Not the case here – fun, retro and even a bit spooky at times – these fangs are pretty sharp.
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