Howling IV: The Original Nightmare * (1988, Romy Windsor, Michael T Weiss, Antony Hamilton, Susanne Severeid, Lamya Derval) – Classic Movie Review 11,595

The 1988 direct-to-video horror film Howling IV: The Original Nightmare is the closest adaptation of Gary Brandner’s original 1977 source novel The Howling, from a screenplay by Freddie Rowe and Clive Turner, and a story by Clive Turner. It is not so much a sequel as a more faithful version of the novel as the fourth in the series of seven stand-alone films with loose continuity.

It stars Romy Windsor, Michael T Weiss, Antony Hamilton, Susanne Severeid and Lamya Derval.

British director John Hough goes back to the Gary Bradner source novel about a holidaying writer, author Marie Adams (Romy Windsor), who is haunted by werewolves. Her doctor advises Richard to take Marie away for a few weeks and they relocate to a cottage in the small town of Drago, some hours from Los Angeles. But Marie is still haunted by werewolves, among whom alas is her husband, Richard (Michael T Weiss), after he makes love to the mysterious artist and antique shop owner Eleanor (Lamya Derval).

Going back to the original 1977 source novel was a good idea, but unfortunately the low-budget film is boring, with weak acting, limp, tension-free handling and feeble special effects.

It is filmed on location in South Africa, pretending to be the California town of the original Howling.

International Video Entertainment released it directly to home video in 1988. Platinum Disc Corporation released it on DVD in 2004.

The theme song ‘Something Evil, Something Dangerous’ is performed by Justin Hayward, lead singer of The Moody Blues.

Co-writer Clive Turner appears as a tow truck driver. He worked on Howling V: The Rebirth and Howling VI: The Freaks and wrote and directed the seventh film The Howling: New Moon Rising.

The cast are Romy Windsor as Marie Adams, Michael T Weiss as Richard Adams, Antony Hamilton as Tom Billings, Susanne Severeid as Janice Hatch, Lamya Derval as Eleanor, Norman Anstey as Sheriff, Kate Edwards as Mrs. Ormstead, Dennis Folbigge as Dr. Coombs, Anthony James as Father Camefron, Dale Cutts as Dr Heinemann, and William Forsche as Werewolf.

Brandner published more than 30 novels and 100 short stories. He lived with his wife and several cats in Reno, Nevada, and died of cancer on 22 September 2013, aged 83. He also wrote the screenplay for the 1988 horror film Cameron’s Closet.

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.

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

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,595

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