The Overlook: Howl

(imdb.com)

Where has the werewolf subgenre gone to? Sure, an array of attempts have been made to revitalize audiences' interest in these hairy monstrosities - 2010's The Wolfman gave us a weak offer to buy back into the typically period-based movies, but none have permeated mainstream culture in the ways films like American Werewolves in London had. But for fans looking a little deeper, some modern options do exist. Today, it's time to give credit to one of those films; Howl.

Howl quietly came out to relatively good reviews in 2015 and follows a group of train passengers who encounter a terrible beast after the train is halted deep in the British countryside. The film unravels with the passengers being increasingly at-odds as they attempt to survive the night. It's a pretty conventional horror film, but definitely packs a worthy punch in both scares and entertainment. Howl stars a ton of actors as it feeds into the one-by-one conventions of horror films before it. Some of the actors include Ed Speelers (Downton Abbey) as ticket ripper and train employee (?) Joe, Holly Weston (The Collection) as coworker Ellen, Shauna Macdonald (The Descent) as disgruntled businesswoman Kate and Elliot Cowan (The Golden Compass)as Adrian.


This film boasts a pretty large cast, which for fans of a lot of bloodshed, is a great addition. It never makes you care about the majority of the passengers - most of whom are either awful, angry people or sweet and compelling. Their purposes are definitely different, with an older couple that'll draw tears compositionally at end with a number of rude passengers viewers will love to see go. This movie is pretty basic, but it's not a bad basic. There's heroes and villains amongst the group, but all are simply there as entertainment devices to bolster the thrillingly dark and dreary ride.


As noted, Howl offers a ton of strong scares and for a monster movie, some pretty great visuals. It's definitely the type of film that may not scare audiences in the day time, but with enough investment in the shroud of night, this film can be the type of thoughtless, nightmare-inducing thrill ride viewers clamor for. It's action-packed in the style of films like World War Z and easily one of those movies viewers sink their teeth into.


Howl, like many creature features and werewolf films never really found it's footing with a larger audience. As the haunted house subgenre has seemingly built a stronghold - thanks largely to the work of James Wan, it becomes increasingly clear that films like Howl may not be for everyone but are definitely necessary. It's a fun, romping good time with very slim chances of survival for its characters and with adequate visuals, it definitely is a step up from some of the recent fodder that pads the horror section of iTunes.