Howling III ** (1987, Barry Otto, Imogen Annesley, Dasha Blahova, Max Fairchild, Frank Thring, Barry Humphries) – Classic Movie Review 11,594

The Howling series is back on course with werewolves having marsupial-like pouches to nurse their young, and turning up Down Under as werewolf kangaroos.

Director Philippe Mora’s 1987 Australian horror film sequel Howling III: The Marsupials [The Marsupials: Howling III] is a stand-alone film in the Howling series, and stars Barry Otto, Imogen Annesley, Dasha Blahova, Max Fairchild, Frank Thring, Barry Humphries and Michael Pate. It is the only PG-13 rated Howling film and the last one to be released in cinemas.

Barry Otto stars as Australian anthropologist Professor Harry Beckmeyer, who warns about widespread werewolf attacks. Imogen Annesley plays werewolf Jerboa, who wins a best actress award on a TV show hosted by Dame Edna Everage (Barry Humphries).

The series is back on course with a fairly amusing horror spoof about werewolves having evolved with the female werewolves having marsupial-like pouches to nurse their young, and turning up Down Under as werewolf kangaroos, with pretty Jerboa (Annesley) giving birth to one in her pouch! She promptly heads for Sydney and unleashes the new terror. Scientists try to study the werewolves, while soldiers try to kill them in the Outback. A young American Donny Martin (Leigh Biolos) falls for Jerboa, fathers her baby, and tries to save the entire pack.

Not bad; some funny bits, some jolly turns, some character development in the tale and less gore than usual keep it hopping along quite nicely.

Last movie of Aussie actor Frank Thring, who died of cancer in 1994.

Although the screen credits claim that the screen story by Philippe Mora is based on the 1985 novel The Howling III: Echoes by Gary Brandner, author of the Howling novel series, its location and story are different, though there are slight similarities in the plot and the sympathetic view of werewolves. The novel is set in the US.

Brandner approved the director’s purchase of the rights to the name The Howling.

The 1988 sequel Howling IV: The Original Nightmare is the closest adaptation of Gary Brandner’s original 1977 source novel The Howling.

Sympathetic werewolves are revisited in Howling VI: The Freaks.

Though Philippe Mora directed the 1985 Howling II, Howling III has no references or characters from it or the first film The Howling, and this time the werewolves are portrayed sympathetically. Allegedly, Mora was unhappy with the story of Howling II and that the producers added extra footage, and he wanted to make the third film to make amends. He raised the finance himself with co-producer Charles Waterstreet.

The cast are Barry Otto as Professor Harry Beckmeyer, Imogen Annesley as Jerboa, Max Fairchild as Thylo, Ralph Cotterill as Professor Sharp, Leigh Biolos as Donny Martin, Frank Thring as Jack Citron, Michael Pate as US President, Barry Humphries as awards presenter Dame Edna Everage, Carole Skinner as Yara, Brian Adams as General Miller, Christopher Pate as Agent, Dagmar Bláhová as Olga Gork, Burnham Burnham as Kendi, Steve Shaw as Horror Movie Actor, Bob Barrett as Policeman, Fred Welsh as Dan Ruggle, and John Ewing as General Forster.

The Howling movies: The Howling, Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf, Howling III, Howling IV: The Original Nightmare, Howling V: The Rebirth, Howling VI: The Freaks, Howling: New Moon Rising, and The Howling: Reborn.

Films directed by Philippe Mora: Swastika (1973/4), Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975), Mad Dog Morgan (1976), The Beast Within (1982), The Return of Captain Invincible (1983), A Breed Apart (1984), Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf (1985), Death of a Soldier (1986), Howling III (1987), Communion (1989), Art Deco Detective (1994), Precious Find (1996), Pterodactyl Woman from Beverly Hills (1997), Snide and Prejudice (1997), Back in Business (1997), Joseph’s Gift (1998), and Burning Down the House (2001).

The Howling novels: The Howling, The Howling II and The Howling III: Echoes.

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,594

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/