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The Howling

  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,859
290
The Howling (1981)
Trailer 2 for The Howling
Play trailer1:35
5 Videos
99+ Photos
Horror
After a bizarre and near deadly encounter with a serial killer, a television newswoman is sent to a remote mountain resort whose residents may not be what they seem.After a bizarre and near deadly encounter with a serial killer, a television newswoman is sent to a remote mountain resort whose residents may not be what they seem.After a bizarre and near deadly encounter with a serial killer, a television newswoman is sent to a remote mountain resort whose residents may not be what they seem.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
36K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,859
290
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Joe Dante
    • Writers
      • Gary Brandner(based on the novel by)
      • John Sayles(screenplay by)
      • Terence H. Winkless(screenplay by)
    • Stars
      • Dee Wallace
      • Patrick Macnee
      • Dennis Dugan
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Joe Dante
    • Writers
      • Gary Brandner(based on the novel by)
      • John Sayles(screenplay by)
      • Terence H. Winkless(screenplay by)
    • Stars
      • Dee Wallace
      • Patrick Macnee
      • Dennis Dugan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 256User reviews
    • 153Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos5

    The Howling
    Trailer 1:35
    The Howling
    The Howling
    Trailer 1:29
    The Howling
    The Howling - Rialto Pictures Trailer
    Trailer 1:32
    The Howling - Rialto Pictures Trailer
    The Howling
    Clip 3:21
    The Howling
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 28
    Video 28:11
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 28

    Photos149

    Christopher Stone and Dee Wallace in The Howling (1981)
    Elisabeth Brooks in The Howling (1981)
    John Carradine, Slim Pickens, James Murtaugh, and Noble Willingham in The Howling (1981)
    Don McLeod in The Howling (1981)
    Slim Pickens, James Murtaugh, and Dee Wallace in The Howling (1981)
    Elisabeth Brooks in The Howling (1981)
    Christopher Stone in The Howling (1981)
    Belinda Balaski in The Howling (1981)
    Christopher Stone in The Howling (1981)
    Robert Picardo in The Howling (1981)
    The Howling (1981)
    The Howling (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dee Wallace
    Dee Wallace
    • Karen White
    Patrick Macnee
    Patrick Macnee
    • Dr. George Waggner
    Dennis Dugan
    Dennis Dugan
    • Chris
    Christopher Stone
    Christopher Stone
    • R. William 'Bill' Neill
    Belinda Balaski
    Belinda Balaski
    • Terry Fisher
    Kevin McCarthy
    Kevin McCarthy
    • Fred Francis
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Erle Kenton
    Slim Pickens
    Slim Pickens
    • Sam Newfield
    Elisabeth Brooks
    Elisabeth Brooks
    • Marsha
    Robert Picardo
    Robert Picardo
    • Eddie
    Margie Impert
    • Donna
    Noble Willingham
    Noble Willingham
    • Charlie Barton
    James Murtaugh
    James Murtaugh
    • Jerry Warren
    James MacKrell
    • Lew Landers
    • (as Jim McKrell)
    Kenneth Tobey
    Kenneth Tobey
    • Older Cop
    Don McLeod
    Don McLeod
    • T.C. Quist
    Dick Miller
    Dick Miller
    • Walter Paisley
    Steve Nevil
    • Young Cop
    • Director
      • Joe Dante
    • Writers
      • Gary Brandner(based on the novel by)
      • John Sayles(screenplay by)
      • Terence H. Winkless(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Rick Baker was originally doing the special effects for this movie, but he left to do An American Werewolf in London (1981), leaving the effects job for this movie in the hands of assistant Rob Bottin. Both this movie and "American Werewolf" were released the same year and both received praise for their makeup work.
    • Goofs
      Slim Pickens is shot twice with the shots coming almost on top of each other in quick succession. However, he is shot with a manual bolt-action rifle making that impossible.
    • Quotes

      Boy watching TV: Wow!

      Mother's voice (offscreen): What are you kids watching?

      Girl watching TV: The newslady's turned into a werewolf!

    • Crazy credits
      At the very end of the credits, there is a brief clip from The Wolf Man (1941).
    • Alternate versions
      In the French video version (TF1) The scene where "Eddie" rips a bullet out of his forehead just before turning into a werewolf is missing. The theater version was uncut though.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Hardly Working/The Howling/'Breaker' Morant/Mon Oncle D'Amerique/Caveman (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Howling Chicken
      Written by Rick Fienhage and Joyce Fienhage

    User reviews256

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Slow to get going
    A very long build up to the first scare, and even then it's not at all scary by today's standards. But there are still some enjoyable aspects. The storyline is well developed, the acting is pretty good, and the gags work well. The werewolf transformation is first rate, especially for the 80s. A pretty good movie in the end.
    helpful•7
    2
    • Calicodreamin
    • Apr 29, 2020

    FAQ11

    • Why did Erle Kenton attempt to kill himself?
    • Why did Eddie give Chris his rifle back before transforming?
    • What is 'The Howling' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 10, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Das Tier
    • Filming locations
      • Mendocino Woodlands Camp - 39350 Little Lake Road, Mendocino, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Embassy Pictures
      • International Film Investors
      • Wescom Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,985,893
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,985,893
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1(original & negative ratio / European theatrical ratio)

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