Movie Reviews for Writers: Howling IV

As a werewolf flick, it's very minimalist, more about atmosphere and setting than about actual werewolves (or at least showing them). And that's fine. It makes the movie far more interesting than just a bunch of violent attack scenes stitched together.

But what does it actually have to say about writing? Well, it makes its best point as a film about the writer's imagination. The ludicrous notion espoused by the doctor that Marie (the writer) needs to take a vacation from her imagination may be the trigger for the film but it's the most ridiculous idea I've just about ever heard about a writer. Not one writer I know can set the stories in his, her, or their head aside and just operate independent of them. Regardless of whether or not words are being put down on paper (or into a computer), the imagination never turns off (not even during so-called Writers Block).

The second statement is that of a writer and fan becoming friends. Even without the mystery of a town full of werewolves to solve, I've seen this one to be true in my own live time and time again, particularly thanks to the beauty of the small press conventions. 

All in all, along with the first one and the fifth one, this is one of my fave films from the Howling series.