Howling VI: The Freaks *** (1991, Brendan Hughes, Bruce Payne, Michele Matheson, Sean Sullivan, Carol Lynley) – Classic Movie Review 11,597

Director Hope Perello’s 1991 direct-to-video horror film Howling VI: The Freaks represents a return to terrifying form in this sixth instalment of the werewolf saga. It is a satisfyingly eerie sequel about a wolfman (Brendan Hughes) captured by a freak show owner and forced to perform his transformation to order.

Taking elements from Tod Browning’s 1932 classic Freaks, as well as elements from Gary Brandner’s third Howling novel, The Howling III: Echoes, director Perello stages a gripping chiller and a very special-effects laden confrontation between vampire and werewolf.

It is the make-up rather than the actors that shines here and the gruesome climax is not for the faint-hearted.

It stars Brendan Hughes, Bruce Payne, Michele Matheson, Sean Sullivan, Antonio Fargas and Carol Lynley.

The interesting screenplay is by Kevin Rock.

Overall, they got pretty good value for the $2,000,000 budget.

Artisan Home Entertainment and Timeless Media Group released the film with Howling V: The Rebirth as a double feature on DVD and as a triple feature with Howling IV: The Original Nightmare and Howling V: The Rebirth on Blu-ray.

The cast are Brendan Hughes as Ian Richards, Michele Matheson as Elizabeth, Sean Gregory Sullivan as Winston, Antonio Fargas as Bellamey, Carol Lynley as Miss Anna Eddington, Jered Barclay as Dewey, Bruce Payne as R.B. Harker, Gary Cervantes as Sheriff Fuller, Christopher Morley as Carl/ Carlotta, Deep Roy 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, and Christian Roerig as Werewolf.

Gary 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 11,597