Being a longtime horror fan, one of my favorite all-time horror flicks has to be greatly under-appreciated film, The Howling IV: The Original Nightmare. Well, it's not the original nightmare as the title suggests. It's actually a remake of the 1981 film, The Howling, directed by "Gremlins" Director Joe Dante. That film was based on the book, The Howling, by Gary Brandner. This movie, however, is a closer adaptation to the novel.
As a kid I didn't know what it was about this movie that kept me interested. No matter when it came on TV, I tuned in despite seeing it hundreds of times. The movie went straight to video in 1988 and was panned by nearly every critic known to man. It's a bad film but to me, a very enjoyable one.
The plot is simple enough. A stressed out writer named Marie Adams (Romy Windsor) is having hallucinations and nightmares about a creepy wide-eyed nun and a wolf-like creature. (Random pairing, I know). Under the advice of her doctor, she and her husband Richard retreat to a cottage in the small, isolated town of Drago to clear her mind for a few weeks. The few people in the town are strange. There's the sheriff, who walks and acts as if there's a stick up his ass. Next, there's local store owners Mr. and Mrs. Ormstead. (The latter is a little too proud of her role as the town gossip). There's also Eleanor, (Lamya Derval) a strange but flirty and attractive artist. Early in the film we also meet Marie's agent Tom, whom Marie is having an affair with. (Gasp!!) Naturally, Richard is disapproving of Tom, especially when Marie tried to insist that he sleep over. Apparently Richard isn't into threesomes.
As a kid I didn't know what it was about this movie that kept me interested. No matter when it came on TV, I tuned in despite seeing it hundreds of times. The movie went straight to video in 1988 and was panned by nearly every critic known to man. It's a bad film but to me, a very enjoyable one.
The plot is simple enough. A stressed out writer named Marie Adams (Romy Windsor) is having hallucinations and nightmares about a creepy wide-eyed nun and a wolf-like creature. (Random pairing, I know). Under the advice of her doctor, she and her husband Richard retreat to a cottage in the small, isolated town of Drago to clear her mind for a few weeks. The few people in the town are strange. There's the sheriff, who walks and acts as if there's a stick up his ass. Next, there's local store owners Mr. and Mrs. Ormstead. (The latter is a little too proud of her role as the town gossip). There's also Eleanor, (Lamya Derval) a strange but flirty and attractive artist. Early in the film we also meet Marie's agent Tom, whom Marie is having an affair with. (Gasp!!) Naturally, Richard is disapproving of Tom, especially when Marie tried to insist that he sleep over. Apparently Richard isn't into threesomes.
As the story progresses, things happen as they do in every movie. I mean, what kind of movie would it be if nothing happened? Highlights include Marie's cute poodle disappearing (later discovered murdered), strange howling in the woods every night, Marie finding a damn paw print on the cottage door, (WTF??) and random ghosts appearing in the house and telling Marie to get the hell out. (Though she never takes the hint). Also, everyone in the town seems to know everything that goes on involving Marie and Richard, especially that damn nosy Mrs. Ormstead!!
A former nun and fan of Marie named Janice (Susanne Severeid) shows up unannounced at the cottage. Apparently the mute nun with huge eyes that Marie had been sexually fantasizing about was actually a fellow nun and friend of Janice. (OK, so Marie wasn't sexually fantasizing about the nun. It's not that kind of movie. LOL!!! But, she was haunted by her. That's the truth).
The nun, Sister Ruth, disappeared from the convent and was found in Drago by the Sheriff. She was out of her mind and ill, muttering the words, "We're all in fear." Huh, so I guess she could talk. But anyway, Sister Ruth starved herself to death. Janice renounced her Nunship (is that a word?) and went to Drago to find out what happened to her fallen wide-eyed friend.
A former nun and fan of Marie named Janice (Susanne Severeid) shows up unannounced at the cottage. Apparently the mute nun with huge eyes that Marie had been sexually fantasizing about was actually a fellow nun and friend of Janice. (OK, so Marie wasn't sexually fantasizing about the nun. It's not that kind of movie. LOL!!! But, she was haunted by her. That's the truth).
The nun, Sister Ruth, disappeared from the convent and was found in Drago by the Sheriff. She was out of her mind and ill, muttering the words, "We're all in fear." Huh, so I guess she could talk. But anyway, Sister Ruth starved herself to death. Janice renounced her Nunship (is that a word?) and went to Drago to find out what happened to her fallen wide-eyed friend.
"Have you seen Whoopi Goldberg or the rest of the cast of Sister Act?"
Together, Janice and Marie work together like a clumsy Batman and Robin to get to the bottom of things. In the meantime, a couple hiking in the woods is briefly taken in by Marie and find themselves devoured by a werewolf almost immediately after departing. I find it annoying when movies bring in certain characters just to die. The hikers were the token throwaway characters in this story.
Now, this happens midway through the film and the werewolf that mauls them isn't even shown. Blood and gore is kept to a minimum. What's worse? This werewolf attack happens during broad daylight! Everyone knows werewolves are nocturnal and controlled by the full moon. So what gives? The filmmakers are breaking serious tradition here. I guess they figured they could get away with it because the howling creatures aren't confirmed to be werewolves just yet in the film.
Anyway, things keep progressing and eventually the mysteries behind the town, the ghosts, and Sister Ruth are all explained. I don't want to provide too many spoilers but I'll list some of the pros and cons of the film.
Now, this happens midway through the film and the werewolf that mauls them isn't even shown. Blood and gore is kept to a minimum. What's worse? This werewolf attack happens during broad daylight! Everyone knows werewolves are nocturnal and controlled by the full moon. So what gives? The filmmakers are breaking serious tradition here. I guess they figured they could get away with it because the howling creatures aren't confirmed to be werewolves just yet in the film.
Anyway, things keep progressing and eventually the mysteries behind the town, the ghosts, and Sister Ruth are all explained. I don't want to provide too many spoilers but I'll list some of the pros and cons of the film.
Pros
Epic Transformations
In my opinion, this movie has the most memorable werewolf transformation ever filmed. When I think of werewolf transformations this is what pops in my head first. I like it because it's a bit different. Rather than Richard undergoing a painful transformation right before your eyes, his skin literally melts off, his bones break, and he sinks into the ground as the town werewolves emerge from the shadows and chant "Satan Calls You!" His bones change shape down in the puddle created by his melted skin and he reforms as a bloodthirsty werewolf. I liked Makeup Artist Rick Baker's work in An American Werewolf In London and Michael Jackson's Thriller, but the werewolf transformation here will still be fresh in your mind after the closing credits because nothing like it was ever done at that time. It may not be the best werewolf transformation but it's my favorite.I don't see how this scene was not considered epic at the time. Check it out for yourself.
Cheesy 1980s' Music
I was born in the 1980s, so naturally I have an appreciation for the music of that era. The music you hear in this movie is pure '80s. It's full of blaring synthesizers, rock guitars and programmed drum kits. In fact, some of the songs on the soundtrack sound like they could be rejects from Prince's Purple Rain album. (Review coming. Don't worry). The film's theme song is Something Evil, Something Dangerous composed and performed by Justin Haywood, lead singer of The Moody Blues. Come on. Don't tell me you're not feelin' this track.
Pure Horror.....Kinda
Too many movies nowadays combine comedy and horror. Jennifer's Body was a perfect example of that. It had the potential to be a chilling film but the constant jokes drowned out any chance of it being scary. The Howling 4 doesn't have any jokes. It attempts to take you for a ride and terrify you. It would succeed but there are things I'll mention later that distract you from suffering any real fright.
In the end the film is unintentionally funny but it tried to be horror. That's something I appreciate. It's OK to combine horror and comedy sometimes but today it has become a trend and true horror is increasingly becoming a lost art.
In the end the film is unintentionally funny but it tried to be horror. That's something I appreciate. It's OK to combine horror and comedy sometimes but today it has become a trend and true horror is increasingly becoming a lost art.
Cons
Cheesy, Dimwitted, Idiot Characters
My cons aren't really cons per se, but minor annoyances that take away from the horror in the story. To put it bluntly, the characters are downright silly by today's standards. Look at Richard, the male lead. Richard tries to be a tough guy, but he has horrible '80s hair. Combine that with his dry, monotone voice and tight blue jeans, and you have a non-charismatic clown. For my female readers out there, is this the kind of guy you'd want protecting you in a dark alley, let alone a cottage surrounded by bloodthirsty werewolves? No wonder Marie was having an affair with Tom, who had much more personality and came across more realistic. Makes me wonder why she married that dud Richard in the first place?
I'm not finished ranting on Richard yet. Throughout the whole film, he has this murderous stare in his eyes. (Yes, the same stare he has in the picture above). He's so wooden and quiet. Every time I watch the movie I expect him to suddenly stab Marie to death yelling, "Die you stupid, stupid bitch!" But it never happens.
Marie is likable but not the brightest crayon in the box. When a stranger appears on her doorstep saying she's a fan, Marie invites her in for coffee without hesitation! Fans can be creepy and dangerous. Did Marie not learn anything from the tragic death of John Lennon? (sighs) The two lead characters have their misgivings, but the whispery townspeople do have a reserved creepiness about them. They are clearly withholding information from Marie. Are they murderers? Werewolves? Ghosts? Vampires? The suspense works and is a big part of the pacing, which I'll get to now.
I'm not finished ranting on Richard yet. Throughout the whole film, he has this murderous stare in his eyes. (Yes, the same stare he has in the picture above). He's so wooden and quiet. Every time I watch the movie I expect him to suddenly stab Marie to death yelling, "Die you stupid, stupid bitch!" But it never happens.
Marie is likable but not the brightest crayon in the box. When a stranger appears on her doorstep saying she's a fan, Marie invites her in for coffee without hesitation! Fans can be creepy and dangerous. Did Marie not learn anything from the tragic death of John Lennon? (sighs) The two lead characters have their misgivings, but the whispery townspeople do have a reserved creepiness about them. They are clearly withholding information from Marie. Are they murderers? Werewolves? Ghosts? Vampires? The suspense works and is a big part of the pacing, which I'll get to now.
Pacing
Many fans and reviewers said the movie dragged and I can see why they say that. The first werewolf attack happens midway through and we don't even see the wolves that much until the climax at the end. But I enjoy the ride.There's a lot of suspense and the characters are (unintentionally) very amusing, so it's a fun journey to see Marie getting freaked out by random ghosts and watching Richard's character get more and more robotic by the minute. The clueless characters, backed by the synthy 80s' music make the movie very enjoyable. And when we do see the werewolf transformations it is a nice payoff, though some of the werewolves look like normal wolves with glowing red eyes. I assume that this is when the filmmakers ran out of money. But some of the wolves, like wolfie here on the right, looked pretty vicious.
"I'll ask you AGAIN. Have you seen Whoopi Goldberg and the cast of Sister Act? I believe I'm in the wrong movie. Thank you."
Final Thoughts
This movie is far from great but I can see what they were trying to accomplish. You could say it falls into the "So Bad It's Good" category. If you're running short on late night comedies to watch, this one would make a great substitute. I'd rate it 6 out of 10 because it's always entertaining to watch.
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