INTERESTING IDEA AND STORY + CHEESE = 5 STARS HOWLING 5 THE REBIRTH
This has got to be the most entertaining film in this series by far since the first, it may even surpass the first in some ways. The first one played like a good b horror movie while this one plays like a classic murder mystery, trust me that is a good thing. This series has always been an interesting one to me, even the truly horrible ones I find really entertaining. This one is really one of the most interesting werewolf movies I have ever seen and I really mean that. Sure the acting is B movie bad but that means it is B movie cheese good, but the concept and lay out of this film is truly A level stuff. Honestly if you were to give a film from this franchise a chance it should be this one, go into it with low 2 no expectations and you will come truly entertained.
The film is all about a group of randomly chosen people [or are they] that make a trip to a castle in Europe for its grand opening. Once there they are treated to an open house of a mysterious castle with something running around picking them off one by one. From here we are treated to something more in the vein of a good mystery film kinda like a "who done it" kind of thing more so then a horror movie. I think since it was made like this that is the reason why a lot of people enjoy this movie more so then the other films in this series. Once people start to disappear they realize that they are stuck in the castle because of a huge blizzard, and then not only are they lost inside a huge castle but they have to run around labyrinth like tunnels under the castle. When it comes down to the last 4 or 5 people this really turns into a "who is the werewolf" situation between the survivors. That who done it mentality really makes this film an interesting watch and actually keeps you interested all the way through.
Director Neal Sundstrom really took something that would normally have been just another sequel and turned it into a very entertaining stand alone in the series. I really feel that Neal along side screen writers Clive Turner and Freddie Rowe saved this film from being horrible. Don't get me wrong the script is not an academy award winner in aspect [except maybe the idea of it] but it is still very interesting. I think it is the bad acting in this film that also adds a little something to it, bad acting in this type of film equals good cheese. Other then maybe Philip Davis every one in this film are so bad they are good, well maybe not that bad but still not award winning. Everything in this film just kinda has a likeable quality about it that even the cons are over shadowed by the pros.
I highly recommend this film to any and every body out there, and if there was ever a film in this series you should see it is this one. The first film is also a really good flick in this franchise, I recommend a viewing of both, well just watch all of them.
Howling I have not received the title. Redwood entertainment from which I purchased the item lied to me on 2 occasions that they mailed the item and they did not
Buy it for the HOWLING V! When I saw this DVD, I was thrilled. Two movies in one! Nowe that is a bargain for what I payed for [...]. But I was very disapointed with HOWLING VI and was surprised with HOWLING V.
HOWLING V: THE REBIRTH is a good installment. While the picture quality is grainy, it doesn't take away from a very creepy film. A werewolf is hiding and living out in a 500 year old castle where a group of poeple from all over the world have come to see its reopening. What they discover is horrifying! Werewolf doesn't have much on screen time, but what you see of it, it looks pretty cool. But... HOWLING VI: THE FREAKS is one of the most horrible installments in the series ( but this is nothing compared with NEW MOON RISING or HOWLING 7). It takes place in a carnivel of freaks where a young werewolf named Ian has decided to go and live for the rest of his days. The werwwolf looks more like chewie from Star Wars. The acting is horrible, the story is medicore, and nothing happens until maybe 40 or 50 minutes in. What's my point? My point is Buy this only for HOWLING V. I have watched V 2 times while I have only watch VI once. ( And once is enough for me.) 3 for V and 0 for VI.
Get it for the Rebirth Howling 5 *****
Howling 5 the Rebirth is by far the best of the Howling sequels (despite having nothing to do with the rest of the franchise). The story starts off simple enough, a group of strangers are brought together a mysteriouse castle for some unknown reason. They wind up being snowed in and as a result are picked off one by one by a werewolf. What makes it so great is that you never know who it is until the end where paranoi runs into overtime.
Howling 6 ***
Howling 6 The Freaks is what is to be expected out of a B level title. A man who is cursed with the mark of a werewolf stumbles into a traveling freakshow. He is eventually lured in and placed as one of the attractions. Eventually he discovers that the owner is a Vampire and the two duke it out. The plot is minor and realy the effects were not that great, especially on the Vampire (gives ugly a new meaning).
Overall get this DVD for # 5 and think of #6 as an unwanted bonus feature (like a Hilary Duff Music Video).
The Rebirth is the Most Suspenseful Howling I had seen Howling 5 growing up as a teenager. It is by far the most suspenseful in the series. A group of people are gathered together at a castle in Budapest. A werewolf picks them off one by one. I kept on guessing until in the final half hour I was pretty sure who it was and I was correct. I will not spoil it for you. For what was a name brand off the shelf rental and now great on DVD this is really suspenseful. All the group, each of them has a gimmick. A surprisngly intelligient horror film.
The Howling 6 The Freaks is just that- a freak show. I hadn't seen it before. A vampire is also thrown in.
It's too bad I'd imagine only diehard horror fans have probably seen this/ will see it as it is one of the most suspensful movies I have seen in my life, Howling 5 that is. I've seen this series called mediocre by critics, they're not. I grew up on Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween and they were called mediocre, too. Diehard fans don't care what the critics say. Only trendy teenybopperish audiences honestly will or won't see a movie based on critics. Oh, the suspsense!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
