“Dead Howling” presents an interesting premise that feels silly but works well: what if you threw a werewolf into a zombie apocalypse? Your first reaction might be to roll your eyes because it sounds silly and brings to mind action-horror films where werewolves all but fly through the air to fight, oh, I dunno, vampires. What we get, though, is something that works because the heart of the film is the cast. There is a werewolf in the movie, just as there are zombies, but the movie is about the plight of the people dealing with all of this, and not simply cannon fodder to give the monsters something to devour. That glint of humanity sets the film apart.
“Dead Howling” follows a brother and sister as they try desperately to find a safe haven from the prowling, hungry dead. They come upon a stranger and form a weary alliance as three lost souls at the end of the world. The siblings soon discover that their new companion has a secret that makes him a powerful and dangerous ally in this new world. Hope flickers through the chaos in a radio message calling everyone to a sanctuary away from the dead, though getting there is no easy feat.
So often you will find a film like this and know its beats, the gags, and can guess what is coming next. It’s an idea, but not a film. As I said earlier, the film focuses on the brother, sister, and the man they discover. The film is seen through them, and how they survive and keep hope alive. At this point, zombie movies are a dime a dozen, and werewolf movies are getting much more common as well. It’s when these films are made with heart that makes them stand out.
The film is well made, though dark at times, as it hews closer to realistic lighting during the many scenes in unlit areas. The acting is well done and brings a refreshing believability and groundedness to the movie. The zombies are well done and are filmed in a way that allows them to be scary and not become boring. The werewolf costume is decent, though not amazing, but the thing is that they shot it wonderfully. It’s rare anymore to find a film that understands its limitations and makes them work for the movie, and not against it. The werewolf is filmed up close, in the dark, and in quick glimpses. It isn’t until late into the movie that we see all of it for any length of time, and it’s fine. It isn’t earth-shaking, but it’s also not bad.
That really sums the movie up well: it is not a bad movie at all, and it is engaging and interesting, but it’s certainly not revelatory. If you are looking for a good, heartfelt horror film, this will absolutely fit the bill. There is a lot to like here, and it’s worth a look.
TL;DR: An emotional zombie film that happens to have a werewolf up its sleeve.
3.5 out of 5
Now available on digital and blu ray.
