Tag Line : The Beast Returns!

Well after parts 2, 3 and 4 I was initially expecting another duff Howling cash-in, however this entry into the series turned out to be a lot better than I expected. Set in an isolated ancient Bulgarian castle, 10 people have won a competition to attend the castle's grand re-opening to the public.

Their host, Count Veselin (played by British TV actor Philip Davis), informs them that they are the first people to look round inside the castle for over 5 centuries. No-one else has dared venture near it through fear of the local superstitions about demonic wolves prowling the area.

The guests begin to look round, but of course it's only a matter of time before they start going missing. With an unexpected blizzard engulfing the surrounding countryside, the remainder find themselves trapped in the castle, with an unseen killer on the prowl.

However, when the bodies of their friends start turning up with their necks ripped open, it becomes apparent that what they are dealing with is something not entirely human. Could the old legends about werewolves be true, and what dark secrets is the Count harbouring?

If your a fan of werewolf films, you would be advised to seek this one out. Whilst it may not be as good as the original, it's definitely the best of the bunch of sequels and is quite good when viewed on its own merits.

Overall marks : 5/10.

Other Information.

• Alternate tag line : "For 500 years the secret lay dormant... Until now"!

• The film bears striking similarities to the 1974 werewolf film "The Beast must Die", which itself was a reworking of the Agatha Christie novel "10 Little Indians" about a group of strangers who are invited to a remote house, only to get bumped off by an unseen killer.

• Victoria Catlin, who plays Dr Peak, went onto play Blackie O'Rielly in "Twin Peaks.

• Producer/Writer Clive Turner played the role of Ray (one of the guests). He also wrote, produced and starred in "Howling 4" and "Howling 7".

• Philip Davis is best known for his supporting roles in UK TV drama series. His credits include "Fields of Gold", "North Square", "Births Marriages and Deaths" and "Robin of Sherwood". His film credits include "Still Crazy", "ID", "Alien 3" and "Quadrophenia". I always remember him as 'Cowboy' from 80's TV series "Truckers".

Cast and Crew.

Buy the US DVD (double bill).

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Other films in the series.

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