The movie poster for "The Howling" (1981) is a striking visual encapsulation of the film's horror and suspense. It features an eerie, ripped surface that seems to be clawed apart by a monstrous force, revealing a screaming woman's face, which merges terror with the beastly. This graphic illustration not only alludes to the werewolf theme of the film but also symbolizes the tearing away of normalcy to unveil the primal horror underneath.
Above this gripping image, the ominous tagline "Imagine your worst fear a reality." sets a chilling tone, challenging the viewer's sense of safety and playing on the universal fear of the unknown. The use of warm colors with a dominant brown-orange palette evokes the sense of an otherworldly, unsettling dusk, further enhancing the sinister atmosphere.
"The Howling," directed by Joe Dante and starring Dee Wallace, belongs to the werewolf genre, but it differentiates itself with a unique blend of psychological horror and dark humor. The film revolves around a television newscaster who, after a near-fatal encounter with a serial killer, retreats to a remote mountain resort only to discover it's inhabited by werewolves.
This poster's design smartly communicates the film's central themes of transformation and terror. The fragmented style of the image hints at the movie's exploration of duality—humans versus their inner beasts—and the savage nature lurking within, ready to burst forth. It's an invitation to the audience to confront the beast within through the cinematic experience.
The bottom of the poster introduces the title "THE HOWLING" in bold, sharp lettering, contrasting with the organic, ragged edges of the torn image above. Accompanied by the menacing tagline "The fright begins this fall..." the poster becomes a prelude to the chilling story that unfolds in the movie, promising a gripping tale of transformation, survival, and the ancient curse of lycanthropy.