Howl is Michele Martin's first feature as director/writer/star and it plays like an entertainingly heated fever dream. While filmed on a modest indie budget, it's impressive how well Martin has captured the lurid, hallucinatory vibe of the Hammer Horror films of the 1950's-1970's, and mashed that up with classic fairy tale elements (especially Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast) along with a dash of modern sexual awakening (complete with a scary zealot mother) a la Stephen King's Carrie. Martin, Scott Hamm (as a hunky, possibly lupine neighbor), and the rest of the cast are clearly having fun keeping us guessing as to what's real and what's in our heroine's head. And the color red is so playfully front and center it should get co-star billing in this twisted little fable. If you're looking for a contemporary horror flick with a touch of romance and psychosexual awakening, wrapped in a lovingly indie vintage vibe, you'll want to sink your canines into this ambitious first film.
Review of Howl
