Howling III (1987)

Director:

Philippe Mora

Writers:

Gary Brandner (novel)
Philippe Mora (writer)

Release Date:

13 November 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Down Under

Plot:

A strange race of human-like marsupials appear suddenly in Australia, and a sociologist who studies these creatures falls in love with a female one...

Plot Keywords:

Sociologist | Australia | Skull | Third Part | Skeleton

Cast

Barry Otto	...	Prof. Harry Beckmeyer
William Yang	...	Siberian Peasant
Imogen Annesley	...	Jerboa
Deby Wightman	...	Wolf Woman
Leigh Biolos	...	Donny Martin
Christopher Pate	...	Agent #1
Max Fairchild	...	Thylo
Jerome Patillo	...	Agent #2
Dagmar Bláhová	...	Olga Gorki (as Dasha Blahova)
Ralph Cotterill	...	Prof. Sharp
Michael Pate	...	President
Carole Skinner	...	Yara
Frank Thring	...	Jack Citron
Jenny Vuletic	...	Goolah
Glenda Linscott	...	Bahloo

Also Known As:

Howling III: The Marsupials
The Marsupials: The Howling III (UK)

Runtime:

USA:94 min | Finland:98 min (DVD) | Argentina:94 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Denmark:15 | Sweden:18 | Norway:18 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1988) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2004) | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Bancannia Holdings Pty. Ltd.

Trivia:

The only Howling sequel as of 2008 with no character seen in any other Howling entry (Stirba, Werewolf Bitch served as a direct sequel to the first film, with Karen White reviving in her tomb; while 5,6,7 all have Elisabeth She as Mary Lou and other common characters). An oblique reference to the previous two entries occurs when Barry Otto's character asks the Russian woman if other groups of werewolves live elsewhere; she says "Africa....China....maybe California". This may reference the varied groups of werewolves who attended to Stirba in Howling II, and Howling I and II took place in California.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the man is thrown from the hospital building, the following scene shows his body coming from the roof, but the room is not on the roof.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Agent #1: Hey, have a look at this. Another K.G.B. intercept meaning "wolfman."
Agent #2: It has to be a code for *something.*
Agent #1: Doubt it is. Unless they know we're intercepting. "Werewolf was sighted near village of Leovich. Three villagers killed. Special army team are tracking monster." Well. Do we tell the powers that be?
Agent #2: Werewolves loose in the Soviet Union. I'm not telling them! Call Beckmeyer in Los Angeles and get his opinion. He's damn good on unexplained phenomenon. He knows how to deal with the White House and this weird shit.
Agent #1: Weird shit! I've got a weird feeling...
Agent #2: Indigestion?
Agent #1: No. Fear.

Movie Connections:

References The Birds (1963)

Horror-comedy with a heart

Despite this being one of many sequels to an acclaimed original, don't let this fact put you off from watching this under-acknowledged film. "Howling III - The Marsupials" is a surprisingly good werewolf spoof with a twist; set in Australia (and let's face it, an Aussie horror movie is a rarity - only "Body Melt" and "Razorback" spring to mind), it deals with the plight of a dwindling pack of marsupial werewolves who are in danger of becoming extinct.

The movie focuses its attention more on character development and emotion rather than the usual random slashings that prevail in such similar movies. The premise is novel and therefore makes for some interesting watching and genuine involvement. Horror fans need not dismay, as there is also a fair share of scares and realistic (if a little corny) human-to-wolf metamorphosis sequences. Some nice welcome comic touches are present, including a Hitchcockian horror movie director played by Frank Thring, relishing every moment of the role. Barry Otto is likeable as the anthropologist who joins the werewolf clan to help save them. And let's not forget the exquisite Imogen Annesley as Jerboa, who shines as a beautiful young human marsupial, escaping from her abusive stepfather and running off to the big city (Sydney) where she finds fame and romance (no, she's not Joan Collins).

The movie comes off quite well on the whole, and has a very moralistic and humane message, dealing with the preservation of dying species.