Howl

On a late night train ride, a routine trip turns into a fight for survival as a shadowy creature attacks the passengers. Inside the dim carriage, strangers band together while doors fail and the train barrels through a forest at speed. Joe, played by Ed Speleers, finds himself drawn into leadership as the others rally around Kate, Adrian, Ellen, and Matthew. Outside, the creature circles the train, forcing the group to barricade windows, improvise weapons, and ration scarce supplies. The stakes sharpen as fear, mistrust, and fatigue grind against nerves, and every decision could mean life or death before dawn. How long can they hold out before rescue or escape arrives remains the brutal question. It hints at fragile ties.

Directed by Paul Hyett, Howl is a creature feature written for the screen by Nick Ostler and Mark Huckerby. It arrived in 2015 as a siege thriller built around a train car, with an emphasis on practical effects and design.

Box office details for Howl are limited; it had a modest theatrical run in select markets and did not become a major worldwide hit. The film mostly circulates within horror circles and among fans of practical creature design worldwide today.

Howl has a modest cultural footprint, mainly among horror enthusiasts who appreciate its claustrophobic setup and practical creature design. The siege in a confined carriage offers a distinct alternative to broader monster movies, emphasizing tension over spectacle, and earning a small but dedicated following on home video and streaming online.

Critics offered mixed evaluations, noting the cast's solid performances and the film's no frills approach to horror. Thematically it probes fear under confinement, group dynamics under stress, and what people do when rules fall away in the face of a relentless threat. Viewers who prefer lean terror may appreciate restraint.