Watch Howling III: The Marsupials

Howling III: The Marsupials is a horror-comedy film from 1987 that serves as a follow-up to the well-received 1981 hit Howling. Directed by Philippe Mora, who had also directed the previous installment, the film takes a different approach to the werewolf genre by introducing a bizarre and unusual concept of marsupial werewolves. The movie is set in Australia, where three young American filmmakers, Jerboa (Imogen Annesley), Donny (Max Fairchild), and Terry (Dagmar Bláhová), arrive to make a documentary about the marsupial population. However, as they start investigating, they quickly realize that there is more to these creatures than they thought. The marsupials are, in fact, a clan of werewolves, the last of their kind, who have been living in secret for thousands of years. Unlike their European counterparts, these werewolves have a unique reproductive system, where the females give birth to live young that are carried in pouches like a kangaroo.

Jerboa is fascinated by the marsupials and becomes romantically involved with one of them, a young werewolf named Jerboa. Meanwhile, a team of Australian soldiers, led by a ruthless scientist named Harry Beckmeyer (Barry Otto), is on the hunt for the marsupials, determined to capture them and use them for scientific experiments. As tensions rise between the marsupials and the humans, a war between the two sides becomes inevitable.

Throughout the film, there are several references to classic horror movies, including The Wolf Man and The Elephant Man, as well as pop culture staples like Elvis Presley and Peanuts characters. The humor is often low-brow and tongue-in-cheek, with many scenes meant to be ridiculous and over-the-top. The special effects, which feature a mix of practical and early-era CGI, are not always convincing but add to the campy charm of the film.

The lead actors deliver decent performances, considering the material they are given. Imogen Annesley is captivating as the werewolf named Jerboa, bringing a certain vulnerability to the role. Max Fairchild, as the sleazy Donny, is a standout, providing most of the film's comic relief. Barry Otto, as the villainous Harry Beckmeyer, is appropriately menacing and brings a sense of gravitas to the role.

The cinematography is also impressive, showcasing the beauty of the Australian landscape and capturing the some of the more suspenseful moments of the film. The score, by Australian composer Allan Zavod, is a mix of synth-based horror movie music and wacky cartoonish tunes.

While Howling III: The Marsupials is not a cinematic masterpiece, it is an entertaining and fun werewolf film that stands out from its predecessors by introducing a unique and bizarre concept to the genre. The movie has developed a cult following over the years, often cited as a guilty pleasure for fans of horror-comedy. Despite its flaws, it manages to provide a few genuine scares, plenty of laughs, and a good amount of entertainment.

Howling III: The Marsupials is a 1987 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.5.