Blu-ray Review The Howling Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

The Howling Blu-ray Review

Two movies from 1981 changed the sub-genre of werewolf movie forever with their (at the time) state of the art make-up effects by showing the transformation on-screen and mostly in-camera for the first time. The first to arrive in theaters was Joe Dante’s The Howling, finally making its Blu-ray debut courtesy of Shout! Factory.

Studio: MGM

Distributed By: Shout! Factory

Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 5.1 DTS-HDMA

Subtitles: English

Rating: R

Run Time: 1 Hr. 31 Min.

Package Includes: Blu-ray

Single Blu-ray Keepcase

Disc Type: BD50 (dual layer)

Region: A

Release Date: 06/18/2013

MSRP: $29.93

The Production Rating: 4/5

After the success (of sorts) of Piranha, director Joe Dante officially graduated from Roger Corman’s New World Pictures with the release of The Howling in 1981 for Avco-Embassy Pictures. Based very loosely on Gary Bradner’s novel of the same name, the script went through various rewrites by Jack Conrad (the film’s original director) and Terrence H. Winkless, until Dante finally handed the writing chores over to Piranha scribe John Sayles. Sayles manages to turn the werewolf legend on its ear, making Eddie Quist (played by a very young and almost unrecognizable Robert Picardo) a serial killer who leaves smiley faces as his calling card, and satirizing self-help cults and repression therapy.As the film opens, Eddie has taken a liking to television news reporter Karen White (Dee Wallace), agreeing to meet her in a film booth at a Hollywood adult book store. As he begins to transform, the police arrive, shooting and (they think) killing Eddie, leaving Karen in a state of PTSD, having little to no recollection of what happened in the adult book store, with the exception of some occasional nightmare flashbacks. This is all having an effect on Karen’s marriage to her husband, R. William “Bill” Neil (Christopher Stone), and self-help author and psychiatrist Dr. George Waggner (Patrick Macnee) recommends they spend some time at his retreat, The Colony. But things at The Colony are not all that they seem, and with help from her co-workers Terry and Chris (Belinda Balaski and Dennis Dugan), they discover the secret of The Colony at a great cost to themselves and loved ones.Dante and Sayles make a wise choice disguising the film as a film noir about a serial killer for the first third, building and introducing the various characters of The Colony (which include John Carradine, Slim Pickens, Noble Willingham, Elizabeth Brooks, and A-1 Steak Sauce spokesperson James Murtaugh) and the mystery surrounding Eddie Quist. John Hora’s cinematography adds to the mood of the piece, as does Pino Donaggio’s eerie score, while editor Mark Goldblatt keeps the pacing brisk. The showstopper, of course, is the werewolf transformation sequence designed by Rob Bottin using bladders underneath latex prosthetics. The effects still hold up today, for the most part, but the film comes to a grinding halt until the transformation is complete. Many of Dante’s acting repertoire are used to great effect, including Kevin McCarthy as the station manager, Dick Miller as an occult bookstore owner and werewolf expert, and Kenneth Tobey as a beat cop. Dante also has a great deal of fun with movie and other references, including naming many characters after directors who made werewolf films and sneaking props related to wolves into the frame (Wolf Chili, Wolfman Jack, etc.). Dante’s follow-ups to The Howling would be Twilight Zone: The Movie (where he and George Miller wound up stealing the film from veterans John Landis and Steven Spielberg) and Gremlins.

Video Rating: 4/5 3D Rating: NA

The 1080p transfer, compressed using the AVC codec, retains the film’s intended aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is a vast improvement over MGM’s 2003 DVD release. Colors are natural and not overly saturated, with accurate flesh tones. John Hora’s color palette is also well-represented, which was an issue with this film in the early days of home video. Detail is extremely good, allowing viewers to see the stubble on a close-up of Eddie Quist early on in the picture, and continuing with textures in the lush scenery of Mendocino and interiors. The crease in the wallpaper that Joe Dante points out in his audio commentary (from 1995) is even more evident in this high definition transfer. The print used does contain some occasional nicks and scratches, but these same anomalies have been present is almost every home video release, so they are likely built-in to the negative.

Audio Rating: 4/5

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also an improvement over the Dolby Digital 5.1 track from the previous MGM DVD, but only in clarity and detail. Other than that, it sounds like the same master was used. Dialogue is clear and intelligible, reproducing mostly from the center channel, with some use of the surrounds for a little more than just ambience. Not a great 5.1 mix, but not bad for a low budget film originally mixed in mono. Unfortunately, the included DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo track sounds like a downmix from the 5.1 track, and is not the film’s original mono mix.

Special Features Rating: 4/5

Shout! Factory ports over all of the special features from MGM’s Special Edition DVD released in 2003, plus four new featurettes produced for this release.Audio Commentary with Director Joe Dante and Actors Dee Wallace, Christopher Stone, and Robert Picardo: Perhaps one of my all-time favorite commentaries, this chat session was recorded in Joe Dante’s home for the 1995 New Line laserdisc release. The four joyfully reminisce about shooting the film in a brisk 28 days, working with many of the legendary actors, and other issues while making the film. However, I noticed that the track has been slightly edited, removing some insults thrown at fellow actor/director Dennis Dugan (he had just directed Problem Child when the session was recorded).*NEW* Audio Commentary with Author Gary Bradner and Blu-ray Producer Michael Felsher: Felsher more or less interviews Bradner on his writing career, taking time out occasionally to discuss the movie and how it differs from the original novel.*NEW* Howlings Eternal With Steven A. Lane (HD; 18:49): Executive Producer Steven Lane discusses his involvement (or lack thereof) with The Howling and its many sequels.*NEW* Cut To Shreds with Editor Mark Goldblatt (HD; 11:20): Goldblatt discusses his love of horror movies, working for both Roger Corman and Joe Dante, and his editing technique on the picture.*NEW* Interview with Co-Writer Terrence H. Winkless (HD; 12:32): Winkless discusses his involvement with the screenplay, and the changes made by John Sayles.*NEW* Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: A Look at the Film’s Locations (HD; 12:15): Sean Clark takes us on a tour of Hollywood and Mendocino to many of the film’s locations.Making a Monster Movie: Inside The Howling (upscaled HD; 8:01): A vintage EPK featurette on the making of the film.Interview with Stop-Motion Animator David Allen (upscaled HD; 8:48): Another vintage interview, taken from, I believe, the New Line laserdisc release.Unleashing the Beast - The Making of The Howling (SD; 48:33): An in-depth look at the making of the film, originally produced for the 2003 MGM Special Edition DVD.Deleted Scenes (upscaled HD; 11:29): Taken from the New Line laserdisc, this set of deleted scenes includes optional commentary by Joe Dante.Outtakes (upscaled HD; 7:03): The film’s blooper reel, as it appeared on the New Line laserdisc.Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:28): The film’s original red-band trailer.Photo Gallery (HD; 7:02): A collection of production and promotional stills.Reversible Insert: Purchasers have their choice of the newer artwork or the classic, original poster art as the insert cover.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Shout! Factory comes through, yet again, with a stellar high-definition special edition of a film many thought would never appear on the format, by porting over all of the special features from the previous MGM Special Edition.

Reviewed By: Todd Erwin

Support HTF when you buy this title:

You mentioned 2 movies in 1981. Did you say what the other one was? I couldnt see it.

Anyway I dont remember the Howling being much of a movie but it could be because I read the book which was great.

I think anyting with the werewolves was from the perspective of them (their thoughts and maybe talking to each other) and I don't remember if this was the case in the movie other than maybe a special effect during WW point of view scenes.

The other movie was An American Werewolf In London, directed by John Landis.

The book is great, the movie is different but also great, i also read the follow up novel which i enjoyed.

IMHO the color's a bit too greenish (never mind trying to find a well-balanced white) and it appears that a bit too much edge enhancement has been used.

Definitely has more detail than the previous DVD's. It doesn't look like film though. I hope they try again at some point for a better transfer. Projected on a large screen the image in decent, but underwhelming.

Also, prints are not used for the vast majority of film transfers. Back in the stone age they would use lo-cons (low contrast prints) but even then Interpositives (IP's) were more common. These days original negatives are often scanned for HD, 2K and 4K transfers, though IP's are still used on a lot of titles.

Eastmancolor said:

IMHO the color's a bit too greenish (never mind trying to find a well-balanced white) and it appears that a bit too much edge enhancement has been used.

Definitely has more detail than the previous DVD's. It doesn't look like film though. I hope they try again at some point for a better transfer. Projected on a large screen the image in decent, but underwhelming.

Also, prints are not used for the vast majority of film transfers. Back in the stone age they would use lo-cons (low contrast prints) but even then Interpositives (IP's) were more common. These days original negatives are often scanned for HD, 2K and 4K transfers, though IP's are still used on a lot of titles.

Click to expand...

Oh yuck, edge enhancement, that's a problem with Halloween III too which is another Shout release, would you say this is the exact same transfer as the European Canal + blu ray. ?

Rex Bachmann said:

This wave came, like many others, in "3s". The third movie, though technically not a "werewolf"-movie, that featured on-screen "state-of-the-art" man-to-beast transformation effects was The Beast Within (1982) (itself, coming to blu-ray disc sometime late summer or fall 2013). Of course, it was played totally "straight", with none of the humor of the two preceding films.

Click to expand...

Technically i'd say the third was Wolfen, also from 1981, but also not a werewolf movie as such.

Ok I messed up on my memory.It was Wolfen book that was point of view of the creatures , so now I'm not even sure if I read The Howling or not.Wolfen was a very good book.Also not sure if I ever saw The Howling now.:^(

They dropped the red band trailer from the DVD but they carry over the Dick Miller easter egg (you can find it in the second page of Special Features, go to 'Back', press right to highlight the claw marks and press enter).

TonyD said:

It was Wolfen book that was point of view of the creatures

Click to expand...

Wolfen needs a blu ray release too.

Todd Erwin said:

Unfortunately, the included DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo track sounds like a downmix from the 5.1 track, and is not the film’s original mono mix.

Click to expand...

Really? That's disappointing. Could that have been an oversight? I'm not sure what the point would be of including that instead of the original mono.

FoxyMulder said:

Wolfen needs a blu ray release too.

Click to expand...

Yeah, Wolfen was a very good, creepy movie. Good book too.