It has been nearly 40 years since I last watched Joe Dante’s werewolf feature The Howling. My last viewing was either videotape or a pay channel during the early 80s only a few years after the film’s release in 1981. Based upon the novel of the same name Gary Brandner the movie along with An American Werewolf in London, released the same year, presented a radically new approach to werewolves in cinema that The Howling, despite a slew of sequels, failed to make the same level of cultural impact.

The film, departing heavily from the novel, centers on journalist and local news anchor Karen White who survives a traumatizing encounter with serial killer and as part of her therapy, along with her husband Bill, secludes herself at a rural facility known as ‘The Colony,’ administered by notable psychiatrist. While living at The Colony Karen discovers that not of her co-residents are exactly what they appear to be and there may be a connection to the serial killer.

There is a reason why The Howling is not as well known as its sister werewolf film An American Werewolf in London, and that is far fewer interesting things happen in it. This film takes a great deal of time establishing its characters and its environment while providing precious little dramatic tension or conflict. With a brief running time of just 91 minutes, it has little room for leisurely establishment. The cast is good and well positioned, the cinematography has a glow to it that enhances the unnatural world of the colony and the transformations by Rob Bottin are groundbreaking, but the complete package fails to get over the top and aside from an ending sequence that is stellar the film is largely forgettable.

The Howling is not a bad film nor is it a great one but rather exists in that uncomfortable middle ground of being basically serviceable. While it has logic and character motivational problems that are left wholly unresolved or explained its novel approach to the cinematic werewolf makes it worth at least one viewing.

The Howling is currently streaming on Shudder.