''Howl'' is a 2015 British

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...

directed by Paul Hyett and starring

Ed Speleers Edward John Speleers (born 7 April 1988) is an English actor and producer. He is best known for playing the title role in the 2006 film ''Eragon'', the antagonist character Stephen Bonnet in the TV series '' Outlander'', as well as James "Jimmy" ...

Sean Pertwee Sean Carl Roland Pertwee''England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007'' (born 4 June 1964) is an English actor, narrator and producer with an extensive career since the 1980s in television and cinema productions. He is known ...

Holly Weston Holly Weston is an English actress. She is known for her role as Ash Kane in the British television soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. Weston also played the lead roles in feature films '' Filth and Wisdom'' and ''Splintered''. Early life Weston was bo ...

, Shauna Macdonald,

Elliot Cowan Elliot Aidan Cowan (born 9 July 1976) is an English people, English actor, known for portraying Corporal Jem Poynton in ''Ultimate Force'', Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mr Darcy in ''Lost in Austen'', and Ptolemy I Soter, Ptolemy in the 2004 film ''Alexan ...

Rosie Day Rosie Jane Day is an English actress, director and writer. She is known for her roles as Mary Hawkins in the Starz series '' Outlander'' and Sarah Jessica Parker's daughter in the comedy film '' All Roads Lead to Rome''. She starred as Tina Pem ...

Calvin Dean Calvin Ainsley Dean (born 21 May 1985) is an English actor, best known for portraying Darren Mullet in the 2009 film '' Tormented'' and for his appearance in Doctor Who. Background Dean was born in Truro, Cornwall. He grew up in Polruan, Cornw ...

, Duncan Preston and

Ross Mullan Ross Mullan (born 5 January 1967) is a Canadian-British actor and puppeteer, known for portraying multiple White Walkers on the HBO television series ''Game of Thrones'' in its second through fourth seasons. He has appeared in episodes of ''Doc ...

Plot

Howl opens with Alpha Trax

train guard A conductor (North American English) or guard (Commonwealth English) is a train crew member responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve actual operation of the train/locomotive. The ''conductor'' title is most common in Nor ...

Joe Griffin (

) doing a shift on a overnight passenger train, which is scheduled to depart London at midnight. The regular guard, is sick. His only consolation is the chance to spend time with his unrequited love, the tea-trolley girl, Ellen (

). A shot of the full moon is shown piecing through a heavy thunderstorm as the train travels. A few miles before reaching the final station, Eastborough, the train is nearly derailed in a forested area when it hits a deer. The driver is forced to make an emergency stop to check the situation and finds the dead deer stuck to the wheels, which he tries to remove. As he struggles with the deer carcass, a nearby

werewolf In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (; ; uk, Вовкулака, Vovkulaka), is an individual that can shapeshift into a wolf (or, especially in modern film, a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature), either purposely or ...

attacks and kills him. Unaware of the dangers outside, the remaining passengers, Kate ( Shauna Macdonald), Adrian (

), Matthew (

Amit Shah Amit Anil Chandra Shah (born 22 October 1964) is an Indian politician currently serving as the Minister of Home Affairs since 2019 and the first Minister of Co-operation of India since 2021. He served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata P ...

), Billy (Sam Gittins), Nina (

), Paul (

), and Ged ( Duncan Preston) and his wife Jenny (

Ania Marson Ania Marson (born 22 May 1949 in Gdynia, Poland) is an Anglo-Polish actress. Biography She was trained at the famed Corona Stage Academy and began her career in 1963 in the famous series ''Dixon of Dock Green'', then in 1960, in other series l ...

), are frustrated to learn that an emergency team will not be able to reach the train due to downed trees all along the line, so they persuade Joe and Ellen into letting them off the train to attempt to walk to Eastborough Instead. Soon, Joe and Ellen find the driver's eviscerated body as they walk through the woods, leading them to rush everyone back to the train, but a werewolf pursues them and bites Jenny's leg before she is pulled to safety. As the others bandage Jenny's wound, Joe tries to call for help again but receives no response. Eventually, everyone realizes that none of them have cell phone reception, because of a broken antenna on the train's roof. Billy, an engineering student, determines that the fuel lines were damaged and leaking, which needed repair in order for the train to continue moving. Meanwhile, the werewolf tries to force its way into the cabin but is unable to penetrate the metal roof or double-paned windows. Later, when it climbs up on the roof of the train, the cellphone reception comes on and Nina's phone begins to ring. When she moves into a less secure area of the car, the werewolf smashes through the window and pulls her out. The remaining passengers barricade themselves in another car, using the train's power tools to reinforce the windows and doors with metal grates. Paul is killed when the werewolf manages to enter the car through the bathroom roof while he is dealing with diarrhea. The werewolf proceeds to break through the passengers' barricades, but the passengers fight together and kill it. Matthew recognizes the creature as a werewolf, leading Adrian to recall that someone bitten by a werewolf will become one. Thus, despite the objections of others', Adrian tries to kill Jenny, who is becoming disoriented, coughing up blood, and spitting out her teeth, before becoming a werewolf herself. Joe knocks Adrian unconscious, then has the others tie him up along with Jenny. Unaware that the werewolf's death cries have alerted the rest of its pack, Billy and Joe attempt to repair the train so it can be driven to safety. As Joe and Ellen monitor the console, Billy goes out to fix the fuel lines. Matthew comes out to help protect him, but he runs into the forest when he hears a voice calling for help. He discovers Nina being eaten alive by a werewolf before he is attacked and killed himself. As the train begins to move again, the werewolf pack snatches Kate, who dies. Jenny eventually transforms into a full werewolf and kills her husband, before trying to kill Adrian, but Joe kills her. Unfortunately, the other werewolves manage to board the train, and Adrian traps Joe and Ellen to cover his escape. Billy tries to beat off the werewolves with torches but is killed, while Joe and Ellen flee into the forest, pursued by the pack. Realizing they will not make it, Joe stays behind to fight them as Ellen safely makes it to the nearest station. Although Joe fights bravely, he is bitten by the chief werewolf and transforms into a werewolf. Shortly after, Adrian stumbles onto the scene and is attacked by the newly transformed Joe, while the other werewolves watch him from close.

Cast

as Joe; the train guard and the main protagonist *

as Ellen; Joe's co-worker and the female protagonist *

as Train Driver Tony * Shauna Macdonald as Kate *

as Adrian *

as Matthew * Sam Gittins as Billy *

as Nina * Duncan Preston as Ged *

as Jenny *

as Paul, the drunken football yob *

Brett Goldstein Brett Goldstein (born 17 July 1980) is a British actor, comedian, and writer. He is best known for writing and starring as Roy Kent in the Apple TV+ sports comedy series ''Ted Lasso'' (2020–present), for which he received the Primetime Emmy ...

as David, the new Supervisor *

Ryan Oliva Ryan may refer to: People and fictional characters * Ryan (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) *Ryan (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) Places Australia * Division of Ryan, an electo ...

as Scar Werewolf * Robert Nairne as Hunchback Werewolf *

as Blonde Werewolf

Production

''Howl'' was directed by Paul Hyett, previously known for his effects collaborations with fellow British horror film director

Neil Marshall Neil Marshall (born 25 May 1970) is an English film and television director, editor, producer, and screenwriter. He directed the horror films ''Dog Soldiers'' (2002) and ''The Descent'' (2005), the science fiction action film ''Doomsday'' (200 ...

. Hyett had previously been a special effects, creature, prosthetic and make-up designer for Marshall's earlier films such as ''

Doomsday Doomsday may refer to: * Eschatology, a time period described in the eschatological writings in Abrahamic religions and in doomsday scenarios of non-Abrahamic religions. * Global catastrophic risk, a hypothetical event explored in science and fict ...

'', ''

The Descent ''The Descent'' is a 2005 British horror film written and directed by Neil Marshall. The film follows six women who enter a cave system and struggle to survive against the humanoid creatures inside. Filming took place in the United Kingdom. Ex ...

'', ''

Centurion A centurion (; la, centurio , . la, centuriones, label=none; grc-gre, κεντυρίων, kentyríōn, or ) was a position in the Roman army during classical antiquity, nominally the commander of a century (), a military unit of around 80 ...

'', and ''

Dog Soldiers The Dog Soldiers or Dog Men (Cheyenne: ''Hotamétaneo'o'') are historically one of six Cheyenne military societies. Beginning in the late 1830s, this society evolved into a separate, militaristic band that played a dominant role in Cheyenne re ...

''; the latter 2002 film also a werewolf movie. Actress Shauna Macdonald played the lead role Sarah in ''

'', and also has a starring role in ''Howl''.

starred in ''Dog Soldiers'' and also has a role in ''Howl''. Paul Hyett also worked on the effects for the British horror films ''

The Woman in Black ''The Woman in Black'' is a 1983 gothic horror novel by English writer Susan Hill. The plot concerns a mysterious spectre that haunts a small English town. A television film based on the story, also called '' The Woman in Black'', was produced ...

'' and ''

Attack the Block ''Attack the Block'' is a 2011 British science fiction comedy horror film written and directed by Joe Cornish and starring John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker and Nick Frost. It was the film debut of Cornish, Boyega and composer Steven Price. The f ...

''. The interior train shots were filmed in

Croydon Croydon is a large town in south London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London. It is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extensi ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, and

London Waterloo station Waterloo station (), also known as London Waterloo, is a London station group, central London terminus on the National Rail network in the United Kingdom, in the Waterloo, London, Waterloo area of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is connecte ...

Lambeth Lambeth () is a district in South London, England, in the London Borough of Lambeth, historically in the County of Surrey. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The population of the London Borough of Lambeth was 303,086 in 2011. The area expe ...

. Exterior shots were filmed in the

Black Park Country Park Black Park is a country park in Wexham, Buckinghamshire, England to the north of the A412 road. It is managed by Buckinghamshire Council, formerly County Council. It has an area of , of which two separate areas totalling have been designated a ...

adjacent to

Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London. The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to te ...

Marketing and release

Marketing

The Horror Addict channel on

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

premiered the official trailer for ''Howl'' on 13 May 2015. The video currently has almost two and a half million views. A total of three different official trailers for the film were released over the summer. Four different film posters have been released; one showing a bloodied, inhuman claw in the sky, hovering over the train, and variations of; one of the glowing eyes looking through a window over bloodstained seats; and the final poster is a bloodied human hand on the window, with a full moon outside.

Release

The film had no

theatrical release An art release is the premiere of an artistic production and its presentation and marketing to the public. Film A film release is the authorization by the owner of a completed film to a public exhibition of the film. The exhibition may be in theat ...

but was shown at several international film festivals before its release on home video. ''Howl'' first premiered at Fantasy Filmfest, which was held in Germany on 5 August 2015. It was subsequently shown at FrightFest in the United Kingdom on 31 August, and Popcorn Frights Film Festival in the United States on 3 October. The DVD release date was initially set for 16 October, but has been pushed back closer to Halloween at 26 October. The DVD will be age-rated 18 in the UK market due to disturbing imagery and graphic and bloody violence.

Reception

The film was met with a generally positive response and currently has 63% on

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

, based on 16 reviews.

Kate Muir Kate Muir is a Scottish writer and documentary maker. Her book, ''Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause (But Were Too Afraid to Ask)'' was published in 2022, and she is the creator and producer of two documentaries on the menopause incl ...

of ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'' negatively likened the film to ''

Snakes on a Plane ''Snakes on a Plane'' is a 2006 American action film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006, in North America. The film was written by David Dalessandro, John Heffernan ...

'', giving it two out of five stars. "Soon, it all gets bloody as the (somewhat unconvincing) lycanthrope goes loco on the locomotive." Luiz H. C., one of the critics of horror film magazine and website ''

Bloody Disgusting Bloody Disgusting is an American multi-media company, which began as a horror genre-focused news site/website specializing in information services that covered various horror medias, including: film, television, video games, comics, and music. ...

'', gave the film a positive review with three-and-a-half out of five stars, saying that: "''Howl'' is a fun and frightening romp." Pat Torfe, also of ''Bloody Disgusting'', gave the film four out of five stars, saying that: "''Howl'' lives up to its title in many ways."

Kim Newman Kim James Newman (born 31 July 1959) is an English journalist, film critic and fiction writer. Recurring interests visible in his work include film history and horror fiction—both of which he attributes to seeing Tod Browning's ''Dracula (1931 ...

of ''

Empire Magazine ''Empire'' is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. The first issue was published in May 1989. History David Hepworth of Emap, the publisher of British music magazines '' Q'' and ''Smash Hits'', among other title ...

'' gave the film three out of five stars, and said of the film: "An unashamed

B-movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double featur ...

, but unashamed fun."

Mark Kermode Mark James Patrick Kermode (, ; ; born 2 July 1963) is an English film critic, musician, radio presenter, television presenter and podcaster. He is the chief film critic for ''The Observer'', contributes to the magazine ''Sight & Sound'', prese ...

of ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...

'': "Engagingly sympathetic portrayals of stoical working women and harassed railway guards keep us on side as the action rattles through familiar generic junctions." Hannah McGill of '' The List'': "The black humour hits home without breaking the tension, while the gore - as one might expect given Hyett's background in makeup effects - is grimly convincing." Garry McConnachie of '' The Daily Record'': "There's still much to admire and enjoy." Mark McConnell of paranormal magazine ''

Fortean Times ''Fortean Times'' is a British monthly magazine devoted to the anomalous phenomena popularised by Charles Fort. Previously published by John Brown Publishing (from 1991 to 2001), I Feel Good Publishing (2001 to 2005), Dennis Publishing (2005 to 2 ...

'' gave the movie 8 out of 10, saying: "The film's climax made me wonder if it wasn't the director's exploration of interpersonal relationships between men and women that made me want to watch it a second time. Hats off to Hyett, who has taken the mundane

British Rail British Railways (BR), which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was a state-owned company that operated most of the overground rail transport in Great Britain from 1948 to 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the Big Four British rai ...

journey and turned it into a feast of bloody horror."

, Issue 333 November 2015, p.63

References

External links

* *{{rotten-tomatoes, howl_2015, Howl 2015 comedy horror films 2015 films British action horror films British black comedy films British comedy horror films British satirical films Films set in 2015 Films set in London Films set on the London Underground Films set on trains Films set in England Films shot in Buckinghamshire Films shot in England Films shot in London 2010s monster movies British werewolf films British exploitation films British splatter films 2010s English-language films 2010s British films