Howling VI: The Freaks
Encyclopedia
Howling VI: The Freaks is a 1991 direct-to-video
horror
sequel to The Howling
. It was directed by Hope Perello, from the screenplay by Kevin Rock.
As with most of The Howling films, it is only very loosely based on the novels
by Gary Brandner
and not a direct adaptation of any of them. It does bear some similarities with the third novel Howling III: Echoes in both the freak show
aspect and its sympathetic view of the werewolf
, something otherwise only seen in the film series in Howling III
.
The film stars Brendan Hughes
, Bruce Payne
, Michele Matheson
, Sean Gregory Sullivan, and Carol Lynley
. Artisan Home Entertainment and Timeless Media Group has released this film along with Howling V: The Rebirth
as a double feature on DVD.
wrote in his book 2002 Movie & Video Guide that Howling VI is "Intelligentally written, especially for this series, but pretentious with vague Ray Bradburyesque undertones". The DVD & Video Guide 2004 noted that "Special effects that leave a lot to be desired diminish this really strange entry in the long-running werewolf series". One reviewer stated that "H. B. Harker played by Bruce Payne
is the one thing that makes this film watchable. His unrepentantly evil Harker is wonderful, aristocratic, neither over or underplayed."
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
sequel to The Howling
The Howling (film)
The Howling is a 1981 werewolf-themed horror film directed by Joe Dante. Based on the novel of the same name by Gary Brandner, the screenplay is written by John Sayles and Terence H. Winkless...
. It was directed by Hope Perello, from the screenplay by Kevin Rock.
As with most of The Howling films, it is only very loosely based on the novels
The Howling
The Howling is a 1977 horror novel by Gary Brandner. It was the inspiration for the 1981 film The Howling, although the plot of the film was only vaguely similar to that of the book....
by Gary Brandner
Gary Brandner
Gary Brandner is an American horror author best known for his werewolf themed trilogy of novels, The Howling. The first book in the series was loosely adapted as a motion picture in 1981...
and not a direct adaptation of any of them. It does bear some similarities with the third novel Howling III: Echoes in both the freak show
Freak show
A freak show is an exhibition of biological rarities, referred to as "freaks of nature". Typical features would be physically unusual humans, such as those uncommonly large or small, those with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics, people with other extraordinary diseases and...
aspect and its sympathetic view of the werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
, something otherwise only seen in the film series in Howling III
Howling III
Howling III is a 1987 Australian horror sequel to The Howling, directed by Howling II: Stirba - Werewolf Bitch director Philippe Mora and filmed on location in and outside Sydney, Australia...
.
The film stars Brendan Hughes
Brendan Hughes
Brendan Hughes , also known as "The Dark", was an Irish republican and former Officer Commanding of the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army...
, Bruce Payne
Bruce Payne
Bruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
, Michele Matheson
Michele Matheson
Michele Matheson is an actress and novelist. She is the daughter of actors Don Matheson and Deanna Lund. Her parents met while performing together in the Irwin Allen science fiction series Land of the Giants and married soon after the show was cancelled. Michele has two siblings...
, Sean Gregory Sullivan, and Carol Lynley
Carol Lynley
Carol Lynley is an American actress and former child model.-Life and career:Lynley was born Carole Ann Jones in New York City, the daughter of Frances , a waitress, and Cyril Jones. Her father was Irish and her mother, a native of New England, was of English, Scottish, Welsh, German, and Native...
. Artisan Home Entertainment and Timeless Media Group has released this film along with Howling V: The Rebirth
Howling V: The Rebirth
Howling V: The Rebirth is a 1989 direct-to-video horror sequel to The Howling. It was directed by Neal Sundstrom from the screenplay by Freddie Rowe and Clive Turner, and filmed in Budapest, Hungary....
as a double feature on DVD.
Synopsis
Ian, a likeable but severely solitary drifter, takes a job making repairs at the local church in the barren rural town of Canton Bluff. Eschewing human contact, Ian seems unnaturally leery of the impending full moon. Aware that Ian is a genuine werewolf, R.B. Harker (the owner of a traveling carnival) captures and forces the young man to work for his carnival, where he is put on display with other human oddities. To further complicate matters, Harker is revealed to have a monstrous secret of his own - he is a vampire.Main cast
- Brendan HughesBrendan HughesBrendan Hughes , also known as "The Dark", was an Irish republican and former Officer Commanding of the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army...
as Ian - Michele MathesonMichele MathesonMichele Matheson is an actress and novelist. She is the daughter of actors Don Matheson and Deanna Lund. Her parents met while performing together in the Irwin Allen science fiction series Land of the Giants and married soon after the show was cancelled. Michele has two siblings...
as Elizabeth - Sean Gregory Sullivan as Winston
- Antonio FargasAntonio FargasAntonio Juan Fargas is an American actor famous for his roles in 1970s blaxploitation movies, as well as his portrayal of Huggy Bear in the 1970s TV series Starsky and Hutch.-Biography:...
as Bellamey - Carol LynleyCarol LynleyCarol Lynley is an American actress and former child model.-Life and career:Lynley was born Carole Ann Jones in New York City, the daughter of Frances , a waitress, and Cyril Jones. Her father was Irish and her mother, a native of New England, was of English, Scottish, Welsh, German, and Native...
as Miss Eddington - Jered Barclay as Dewey
- Bruce PayneBruce PayneBruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
as R.B. Harker (as Bruce Martyn Payne) - Gary Cervantes as Sheriff Fuller (as Carlos Cervantes)
- Christopher Morley as Carl/Carlotta
- Deep RoyDeep RoyGurdeep Roy , sometimes credited as Roy Deep, Gordeep Roy, or just Deep Roy, is a Kenyan-born English actor, stuntman and puppeteer of Indian descent.-Early life:...
as Toones - Randy Pelish as Pruitt
- Ben Kronen as Hank
- John A. Neris as Earl Bartlett
- Al White as Carny Worker
- Jeremy West as Lester
Reception
The reception for this film was somewhat mediocre at best. Leonard MaltinLeonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...
wrote in his book 2002 Movie & Video Guide that Howling VI is "Intelligentally written, especially for this series, but pretentious with vague Ray Bradburyesque undertones". The DVD & Video Guide 2004 noted that "Special effects that leave a lot to be desired diminish this really strange entry in the long-running werewolf series". One reviewer stated that "H. B. Harker played by Bruce Payne
Bruce Payne
Bruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
is the one thing that makes this film watchable. His unrepentantly evil Harker is wonderful, aristocratic, neither over or underplayed."