The Howling (1981): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Howling is a 1981 horror film starring Dee Wallace, Belinda Balaski and Christopher Stone. It is partly based on The Howling by Gary Brandner. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $18 million worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Actress at the Saturn Awards 1980. Critics gave it 68 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 31m (91 min)
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- AVCO Embassy Pictures
- Based on
- The Howling by Gary Brandner
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is The Howling About?
The premise of The Howling without spoilers, adapted from The Howling by Gary Brandner. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A journalist seeking refuge from a disturbing past travels to a remote mountain retreat. There, he finds the residents behaving strangely, and a terrifying secret about their transformations begins to unfold. As the full moon approaches, he realizes the resort's guests are turning into savage wolves, and he must fight to survive the night and uncover the source of the horrifying curse.
The Howling Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- werewolf
- female full frontal nudity
- outdoor sex
- adultery
- silver bullet
- psychiatrist
- forest
- monster
- werewolf bite
- werewolf transformation
- shapeshifting
- 1980s
+38 more Show fewer
- transformation
- shot to death
- news anchor
- group therapy
- slapped in the face
- bound and gagged
- howling
- interview
- interviewer
- sexual harrassment
- corpse
- scream
- screaming woman
- blood
- policeman
- police
- gunshot
- attack
- f rated
- female protagonist
- sleeping on a couch
- nightmare
- portrait
- trauma
- newspaper clipping
- drawing
- dog
- dog barks
- investigation
- painter
- doctor
- bare chested male
- woods
- talking to the camera
- hallucination
- anchorman
- telephone call
- psychotherapy
The Howling Cast
Dee Wallace leads the cast, with Belinda Balaski and Christopher Stone.
The Howling Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Howling 68 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 68 Metascore
User score 6.6
See on Metacritic
The Howling Plot Summary
What happens in The Howling from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
When middle-class wife Karyn Beatty suffers a brutal attack and rape in her Los Angeles home, she endures not only a miscarriage but also a profound nervous breakdown. Seeking solace, she and her husband, Roy, abandon the city life for the tranquil, secluded mountain village of Drago in California, hoping this peaceful environment will aid in Karyn’s recovery. Despite the friendly locals and serene lifestyle, Karyn is unsettled by the mysterious howling that echoes from the woods outside their new residence at night. This unsettling phenomenon strains their marriage, with Roy dismissing Karyn’s concerns about the presence in the woods, believing she is spiraling into instability.
Full summary
The whole story of The Howling, scene by scene
The Howling Box Office
The Howling grossed $18 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$18M
- US & Canada
- $18M
The Howling Awards & Nominations
The Howling earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Actress at the Saturn Awards 1980.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 1980 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Actress – Veronica Cartwright
The Howling Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 teaser.
- Trailer THE HOWLING Trailer [1981]
- Teaser
How Well Do You Know The Howling?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the character Karyn Beatty?
Cars in The Howling
6 cars on screen, including the 1979 Mazda RX-7 and the 1980 BMW 528i E12.
-
1979 Mazda RX-7 Main role -
1980 BMW 528i E12 Important role -
1975 Ford Torino Minor role -
1969 Plymouth Fury Minor role
The Howling Also Known As
29 alternative titles, including “破胆三次” and “Aullidos”.
- Also known as
-
- 破胆三次
- Aullidos
- 狼人
- 群魔乱舞
- 咆哮
- 狼嚎
- Das Tier
- L'ululato
- O Uivo da Fera
- Hurlements
- Вой
- Το Ουρλιαχτό
+17 more Show fewer
- Üvöltés
- זעקת הדמים
- Skowyt
- Çığlık
- Виття
- 하울링
- Воят
- Grito de Horror
- Varulvar
- 破膽三次
- Kvílení vlkodlaků
- ハウリング
- Urlikanje
- Zavýjanie
- Varulve
- Udols
- Varulver
Seen The Howling?
Movies Like The Howling
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Howling V: The Rebirth, Howling IV: The Original Nightmare and Howling II: Stirba - Werewolf Bitch.
-
Howling V: The Rebirth 1989 -
Howling IV: The Original Nightmare 1988 -
Howling II: Stirba - Werewolf Bitch 1985 -
Howling: New Moon Rising 1995 -
Night of the Howling Beast 1975 -
Wolf 1994 -
Wolves 2014 -
A Howling in the Woods 1971 -
The Werewolf 1956 -
Werewolf Woman 1976 -
Howling III: The Marsupials 1987 -
The Feeding 2006
The Howling FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of The Howling, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Howling?
The Howling runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).
When was The Howling released?
The Howling was released on April 10, 1981.
Who is in the cast of The Howling?
The Howling stars Dee Wallace, Belinda Balaski and Christopher Stone.
How much did The Howling make at the box office?
The Howling grossed $18 million worldwide.
How is The Howling rated?
The Howling has 68 on Metacritic.
Is The Howling based on a book?
Yes. The Howling is partly adapted from The Howling by Gary Brandner.
Was The Howling nominated for any awards?
The Howling received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does The Howling have a post-credit scene?
Yes. The Howling has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
