The Howling

I saw this picture because Pauline Kael liked it. What am I thinking about? This is a werewolf movie, as we all know, and not too bad a one, though I am a sucker for the genre (werewolves, that is). It sort of burbled along, with occasional gore, and some neat effects, though I am not convinced by the pop mythology weight which Kael assigned to it. The pacing was inconsistent, and a lot of it was shot at night, which I suppose is unavoidable in a werewolf picture; but why can't moviemakers realize that moviegoers get really impatient when they can't make out exactly what's going on? I mean, shoot at night, by all means, but light the scenes well enough to be recognizable; anything less seems like false artistry, or at least an attempt to cover up budgetary constraints. Movies are magic, so use that magic to let us see clearly even at night. I hate it when pictures turn indistinct. I hope I never do that. Life is murky enough, movies should be clear and sharp. That's why people like them.