NEW THE HOWLING - ULVONTA (1981) 4K UHD HDR - FREE SHIPPING

The Howling - Ulvonta
(1981) 4K UHD HDR

Without question one of the most visceral
and satisfying werewolf movies ever rele-
ased, director Joe Dante's knowing lycan-
thrope classic is sure to get a few jumps,
as well as a few chuckles, out of even the
most jaded horror fan. From the smart
and innovative script from screenwriter
John Sayles to solid performances all
around The Howling is a rare example of
a werewolf film that likely would have
succeeded even if Rob Bottin's ground-
breaking makeup effects hadn't been so
terrifyingly convincing. Endless in-jokes
and film references are bound to keep ci-
nephiles constantly on their toes, even if
you're not up to the task of weeding out
all the fine details, this fast-paced chiller
isn't likely to leave you bored and that's
an extremely difficult weight to balance.
From television news reporter Karen
White's (D Wallace) mysterious and terri-
fying initial encounter in a cheap porno
shop to the dark secrets of the "colony"
she retreats to in hopes of escaping the
nightmares that plague her, Dante and
Sayles keep things moving at a lean pa-
ce that is notably enlivened by Patrick
Macnee, John Carradine, and Slim Pick-
ens' colorful supporting performances. If
the makeup effects seem slightly outdat-
ed from a revisionist standpoint, the ima-
ges they create (the image of sharp, ta-
lon-like claws growing out of the main we-
rewolf in particular) are hard to shake re-
gardless of the technological advance-
ments that have aided effects artists sin-
ce The Howling's debut in 1981. These
unforgettable images, combined with a
clever script and tight direction, make for
a film as self-consciously fun as it is truly
unsettling.