The 2012 Korean action/thriller Howling proves that in a lot of cases, the bite is worse than its bark. A crime film about the underbelly of the dog fighting world is unique enough to make it a new favorite. However there is a downside. The cops in Korea are highly misogynistic and work overtime to let their new female teammate know she is very unwelcome.
Howling is based on a Japanese novel that was released in 1996: The Hunter by Asa Nonami, it may well be set in the late 90’s as well. Although the sentiment displayed by the majority of the detective team feels like something from the 1970’s.
The Story
New detective Eun-yeong is paired with veteran detective Sang-gil. Due to an unfair point system in the police department, Sang-gil keeps being passed over for promotion. He is given a case where the victim apparently has killed himself via immolation. Eun-yeong thinks otherwise and the unlikely pair start investigating.
Soon, the case takes a bizarre turn and the two end up fighting for their lives and careers.
The Cast
Lee Na-young is Det Eun-yeong.
Nam Bo-ra is Jung-na.
Shin Jeong-geun is the Chief Detective.
Cast is king and queen
The casting of Song Kang-ho, who is a personal favorite since spotting him in the 1998 comedy horror The Quiet Family, makes Howling almost compulsive viewing for me. This actor, who was not classically trained, is head and shoulders above his contemporaries. Kang-ho makes any film he is in a complete treat.
Casting Lee Na-young as a former patrol officer turned detective is a bold move for this actor. She made her name in romance, including both dark; Maundy Thursday (2006) and comedic; Someone Special (2004). I saw her initially in Please Teach Me English (2003) another romantic comedy.
Lee Na-young is outside her comfort zone in Howling but it does not show. At no point do we ever doubt the truth of this character or her goal; to become a top detective. We equally feel the depth of Kang-ho’s divorced and beaten down detective. Sure, the actor has played a cop before in Memories of Murder; a true story of South Korea’s first serial killer, but he brings authenticity to every role he plays.
It works
Ha Yoo directs Howling from his adapted screenplay from the Asa Nonami novel. The name change and move to set the action in Korea seems to be a solid one. I have not, however, read the source book so I have no real idea about the transfer to another locale working or not. But the story, apart from leaving a bitter taste in one’s mouth at the ending, is entertaining as both a mystery and a character study.
It shows that crime is just as distasteful in Korea as anywhere else in the world. Howling also shows that revenge can be a powerful motivator when those we love are injured or damaged. The introduction of a canine killer, on top of the pedophile pimps being murdered insures a plotline that keeps you interested from start to finish.
The Verdict
Howling earns a subtle 4 out of 5 stars. That bitter taste that the film’s ending leaves resulted in the loss of a full star. *The way the entire team treats the new female team member is both nauseating and annoying. You want to reach into the screen and slap these women haters into a new realm.* The film can be seen via Freevee, Tubi and the Roku Channel for free.
the trailer
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