"Sleaze/Karen’s Nightmare" features a dark, dreamy theme that is unforgettable. While listening to it, I immediately visualized Karen White (Dee Wallace Stone) in the XXX-rated movie theater with Eddie Quist (Robert Picardo). "The Howling" is the main theme of the movie and is built around this dark, dreamy repeating theme.

"Doctor’s Orders" and "Wolf at the Door" made me think of use of the organ in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. In fact when I was playing this soundtrack at work, my co-worker asked, "Is that PHANTOM OF THE OPERA?"

Donaggio uses strings in Bernard Herrmann fashion throughout the score and is especially comparable in tracks such as "Spectre/Escape From The Morgue," "Something Nasty in the Woods," "Wolf Bites Man!" "Wolfing Down Terry" and "Fur From the Madding Crowd" all have strings building to a plateau of terror. It’s not by coincidence that you feel suspense in the film when these tracks play.

"Animal Magnetism" has a similar beautiful feel as Donaggio’s CARRIE theme.

"Transformation" pulsates and punctuates the incredible scene where Rob Bottin’s special make-up effects top even Rick Baker’s AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON work. I can’t help but mention and be reminded of this scene by the wonderful photos La-La Land has included on this CD. My feeling is that the reason why Bottin’s werewolves look the most spectacular is because they look like the wolf in the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Standing tall on two feet, Bottin’s werewolves have huge heads with long snouts, which are a nightmare turned physical reality.

It was pretty cool to hear the seven Bonus Tracks. The five Electronic Stingers are something I don’t think I’ve ever heard on a soundtrack before.

As always, La-La Land does an amazing job with the linear notes. The part that stood out was because Joe Dante didn’t speak Italian and Pino Donaggio didn’t speak English, they had to communicate with the help of actor/director Paul Bartel in Spanish. That’s a pretty crazy way to converse with each other, but it sure the heck worked.