The Howl of the Devil (1988) movie poster

The Howl of the Devil

El aullido del diablo

1988 ·1h 37m · ★ 5.0 (20)

Hector Doriani is a stage and screen actor who feels himself living in the shadow of his dead twin brother, Alex Doriani, once a famous star of horror movies. Alex’s young son, Adrian, now lives with Hector in an isolated mansion in the countryside. To keep alive the memory of his father, the boy imagines himself visited by the spirit of the dead man, incarnated in a series of classic horror characters from the past. Eric, Alex’s former butler, now also works for Hector. His main role is to locate and bring to the mansion a series of women who are paid large sums of money by Hector to take part in various sadistic sex games. To complicate matters even further, the games always seem to end with the women getting slaughtered in various gruesome ways by a black gloved, masked killer. Also on hand is horror diva Caroline Munro, as Hector’s housekeeper and cook, who is being pursued by a local priest with whom she once had a much-regretted affair.

Why it matters

A lurid blend of haunted family drama and exploitation slasher that captures late-80s Euro-horror excess with a shadowy, theatrical flair.

  • Caroline Munro’s presence alone anchors this as a cult horror curiosity for fans of genre icons navigating campy territory.
  • The film’s twisted homage to classic horror archetypes through the boy’s imagination adds a meta-layer rarely seen in sleazy slashers.
  • Practical gore effects deliver messy, inventive kills that showcase the era’s knack for visceral creativity despite budget constraints.
  • Its slow pacing and convoluted plot may frustrate viewers, but those craving atmospheric, offbeat Euro horror with a decadent edge will find something to savor.
7 horror films in catalog

Horror DNA

Gore
85
Slow Burn
17
Psychological
29
Supernatural
20
Creature
36
Disturbing
83
Fun Factor
33
Cerebral
14
Survival
83
MonsterWerewolf

Content Warnings

Sexual ViolenceChild in DangerTaboo ContentDehumanizationTorture

Phobia triggers

Religious Imagery

Pairs Well With