Info
- Director: Joe Nimziki
- Starring: Ivana Milicevic, Landon Liboiron, Lindsey Shaw
- Year:2011
- Runtime: 92 Minutes
- Company: Anchor Bay
- Format: DVD
- Discs: 1
- Video: 16:9 - 1.78:1
- Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital
- Region: 1
- Released: 10/18/2011
Film
Oh god, where do I begin with describing this sorry excuse for a horror film. Let alone a "film" in general. Hey, that's a start! Let me dive into the obligatory premise breakdown before I unleash four paragraphs of scathing hate. During a barrage of Twilight-esque title cards, we see a seemingly random pregnant woman (I smell plot twist!) bite the dust by an off screen werewolf assailant. Years later, whiny outcast high-schooler Will (Landon Liboiron, Terra Nova) is finding life tough. He can't have his dream girl Eliana (Lindsey Shaw, Devovled) because her dickhead foreign boyfriend beats him up and threatens to kill him frequently. With the addition of other menial High School drama, Will thinks he is turning into a werewolf. Shortly after a trio of new students enroll at his school, bent on making Will fulfill his lycan heritage. Said plot twist happens leaving Will and Eliana trapped in the school to kill the werewolf horde before they escape.
That's only the gist ladies and gentlemen. The Howling Reborn is, if you hadn't surmised already, an in name only film looking to make a few bucks off the name drop. My question is, what the fuck for? The myriad of sequels that followed the original film weren't successful in the slightest. Teenyboppers (the core market for this film) have no clue as to what The Howling is. Any horror fan with a brain knows of the 1981 Joe Dante classic but wouldn't (willingly) watch this dud if their life depended on it. I'd expect this shit from a studio film but this is an independent affair, there's no way in hell they are gonna make some $ off this.
We live in an era filled with screen monsters who were once feared that now sparkle and have soap opera romances that make young girls gush with delight. While The Howling: Reborn isn't quite that sappy, it's a close cousin on the bullshit cutesy new wave horror tree. With so much drama & unnecessary exposition, I honestly forgot this was a horror film, let alone one that included werewolves. So when the hairy creatures show way after their expected mark, you've already slipped into cineboredem. It doesn't help what screen time the werewolves do get are destroyed by fast cutting happy editors.
There's so much wrong going on in this film, it's futile to continue writing about it. For my, the readers and the films sake. The Howling: Reborn is as cliched, unoriginal and boring as they come. There are dozens of other original, independent horror productions that demand your attention and praise. Films like The Howling: Reborn should be ignored and those wise enough will dismiss this automatically. Save your money, save your time and save your sanity. The Howling: Reborn will be forgotten like the sequels that followed the still superior original.
DVD
- Video
The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen image offers a nice transfer with no technical disturbances. It's sharp and offers detail that I'm sure the Blu-ray only improves on. AV wise this disc is without problem.
- Audio
The discs Dolby Digital 5.1 offers a standard audio experience that does it's job just fine. Bass is deep and speakers get a workout.
Bonus Features
- Audio Commentary - Director Joe Nimziki & Actress Lindsey Shaw
- Featurette- "The Making Of The Howling: Reborn
Your standard director, cast, crew EPK. Everyone involved seems really happy with the final product. If only I shared their enthusiasm.
- Storyboard Gallery
Screencaps
SKIP IT
