tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110147752122772426.post8702538306524078134..comments2024-03-28T10:33:39.051-07:00Comments on Horror Movie A Day: Blu-Ray Review: The HowlingBChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06480847497966171794noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110147752122772426.post-4844722759284954242013-07-01T18:22:33.494-07:002013-07-01T18:22:33.494-07:00Well, well, well; it looks like it's suddenly ...Well, well, well; it looks like it's suddenly become real trendy to bash bladder effects. It's not like anybody ever bashes Savini's signature paper mache heads made famous in Maniac and The Prowler, even though those dated cheesy effects come off as exponentially faker than most landmark bladder effects. <br /><br />And yes I say exponentially faker since those heads aren't even remotely passable as facsimiles to human heads. The quick cuts can't totally conceal that fact.<br /><br />As compared to the robotics and bladder work that made the werewolves in AWIL and The Howling look organic and alive.<br /><br />What gives? Unless you're Nitly Pickerson, the transformation scene in The Howling still comes off as freaky and iconic. No soulless CGI has ever come close to matching it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110147752122772426.post-78011606228725164582013-06-19T14:27:44.749-07:002013-06-19T14:27:44.749-07:00I saw this when it first came out in theaters. I w...I saw this when it first came out in theaters. I was about eight, but had a mom who let me watch horror movies. I really liked it at the time, as well as An American Werewolf in London.<br /><br />Then about the mid-1990's I watched The Howling again. I hadn't seen it in several years and was excited to buy it. I was disappointed. I didn't think the movie held up well at all. In fact, it seemed nearly laughable.<br /><br />My feelings haven't changed. I've re-visited the film a few times since then including just last month, but still think it comes off as just too dated. That includes the transformation scene.<br /><br />I think Rick Bakers's work in An American Werewolf in London exceeded Bottin's work and still holds up better, but even that movie after more than 30-years comes off as dated. But still there are a few bits in that movie's transformation scene which come off as pretty cool while Bottin's work in The Howling was great at the time, but just seems weird and cheesy now.<br /><br />Bottin is still one of the greats in my book though and after re-watching The Howling again last month I enjoyed it a little more than I have in a long time, but I think nostalgia and my preference for 70's and 80's movies colored my last viewing. <br /><br />I would not recommend this flick to anyone unless they are really into movies from that era. Even then, I might not.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110147752122772426.post-90005922614349762302013-06-18T12:53:07.059-07:002013-06-18T12:53:07.059-07:00Awesome review and thanks for mentioning the featu...Awesome review and thanks for mentioning the features that weren't advertised. Will definitely be picking this up now. If I would have been in LA when you screened it for HMAD, I wouldnt have missed it. The Howling has always been a favorite pure horror werewolf movie for me behind Bad Moon, which I love. Thanks for the great read/info!Chance Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957287079805433726noreply@blogger.com