I'm a big fan of werewolf films and I make it my business to check out any new releases. This one's a low budget British effort along the same lines as the recent LAST PASSENGER (a story about a group of characters trapped on a speeding train with a crazed driver) except with werewolves as the villaisn.
It starts off promisingly enough, with some good characterisation and the beginning of various character arcs. There are some genuinely spooky moments along the way. Sadly, the script gets worse and worse as the running time progresses, giving characters dumb things to say and do, and by the end you couldn't really give a fig about any of them, they're that unlikeable. Having the characters running around screaming for half an hour does not make good cinema.
HOWL really is a mixed bag of a film. The cinematography isn't bad but the determination to shoot everything in the dark is a bit trying (and hard on the eyes). The cast isn't as good as it should be; particularly average is Ed Speleers (ERAGON) playing the leading man. He's supposed to be undergoing this heroic character arc but instead he just seems a little whiny and weedy with little reason for the viewer to root for him. When the only recognisable face is old-timer Duncan Preston (from EMMERDALE) you know you're in trouble. Sean Pertwee appears in a cameo but most people will miss him because his face only appears in profile in the dark - what's the point of that?
Really, the only thing that HOWL has going for it are the werewolves. They look FANTASTIC - among the best I've seen. They're muscular, feral, frightening, with glowing eyes that look really creepy. Whenever they're on screen the film really works, but as soon as they're off it just sort of amblesagain. The set-piece train attack is the film's highlight as it plays against type by having the group fight back, but after this promising moment it all descends into the usual again, which is a real pity because HOWL could have - and should have - been something special. It's the best British werewolf film since DOG SOLDIERS, but that's not saying too much given the lack of competition.
It starts off promisingly enough, with some good characterisation and the beginning of various character arcs. There are some genuinely spooky moments along the way. Sadly, the script gets worse and worse as the running time progresses, giving characters dumb things to say and do, and by the end you couldn't really give a fig about any of them, they're that unlikeable. Having the characters running around screaming for half an hour does not make good cinema.
HOWL really is a mixed bag of a film. The cinematography isn't bad but the determination to shoot everything in the dark is a bit trying (and hard on the eyes). The cast isn't as good as it should be; particularly average is Ed Speleers (ERAGON) playing the leading man. He's supposed to be undergoing this heroic character arc but instead he just seems a little whiny and weedy with little reason for the viewer to root for him. When the only recognisable face is old-timer Duncan Preston (from EMMERDALE) you know you're in trouble. Sean Pertwee appears in a cameo but most people will miss him because his face only appears in profile in the dark - what's the point of that?
Really, the only thing that HOWL has going for it are the werewolves. They look FANTASTIC - among the best I've seen. They're muscular, feral, frightening, with glowing eyes that look really creepy. Whenever they're on screen the film really works, but as soon as they're off it just sort of amblesagain. The set-piece train attack is the film's highlight as it plays against type by having the group fight back, but after this promising moment it all descends into the usual again, which is a real pity because HOWL could have - and should have - been something special. It's the best British werewolf film since DOG SOLDIERS, but that's not saying too much given the lack of competition.