Howling II: Stirba - Werewolf Bitch
Encyclopedia
Howling II: Stirba – Werewolf Bitch (also known as Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf) is a 1985
horror film
directed by Philippe Mora
. It is a sequel to the 1981 film The Howling
.
Although Gary Brandner
(author of The Howling
novels) co-wrote the screenplay, the Howling II film is largely unrelated to his Howling II
novel from 1979, though it does introduce Eastern European customs and Romani into its werewolf mythology like the book.
The film was marketed with the tagline "The rocking, shocking new wave of horror!"
. Ben meets both Jenny Templeton, one of Karen's colleagues, and Stefan Crosscoe, a mysterious interloper who tells him Karen was a werewolf. Providing videotaped evidence of the transformation — and turning up to destroy Karen as her undead body rises from the grave — Crosscoe convinces Ben and Jenny to accompany him to Transylvania to battle Stirba, an immortal werewolf queen. Ben dons a Canadian tuxedo to prepare for the battle. Along the way, the trio encounter Mariana, another lusty werewolf siren, and her minion Erle.
Arriving in the Balkans, Ben and company wander through an ethnic folk festival, unaware that Stirba is off in her nearby castle already plotting their downfall. Eventually, the adventurers do battle with Stirba in an assault that involves disguised dwarves, mutilated priests, supernatural parasites, and surprise revelations.
. Brandner was critical of the original 1981 film
which was only a loose adaptation of his 1977 novel, and some elements of this sequel may have been deliberately divergent from the previous film, though some (such as this film's ret-conning of that film's ending to be a secret) seem to be accidental.
The film was shot on location in what was, at the time, the country of Czechoslovakia
- for example in the ossuary in Mělník
(a town in Central Bohemia), which the story incorrectly claims to be in Transylvania
.
Co-stars Marsha Hunt and Christopher Lee previously appeared in Dracula AD 1972
. In 1990, when Lee was cast in Gremlins 2: The New Batch
, one of the first things he did was apologize to director Joe Dante
(who also directed The Howling) for being in this film.
, Reb Brown
and Christopher Lee
.
The film is mentioned in the Yo La Tengo
song "From a Motel 6" in the line "I climb where I can see - you're close but I won't reach. Blank stare at the TV- THE HOWLING II's on Channel 3 I drift off to sleep, while the snow falls on the screen".
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
directed by Philippe Mora
Philippe Mora
Philippe Mora is a French-born Australian film director. Born in 1949 to a German Jewish father and a French Jewish mother, he began making films while still a child.- Career :...
. It is a sequel to the 1981 film The Howling
The Howling (film)
The Howling is a 1981 werewolf-themed horror film directed by Joe Dante. Based on the novel of the same name by Gary Brandner, the screenplay is written by John Sayles and Terence H. Winkless...
.
Although Gary Brandner
Gary Brandner
Gary Brandner is an American horror author best known for his werewolf themed trilogy of novels, The Howling. The first book in the series was loosely adapted as a motion picture in 1981...
(author of The Howling
The Howling
The Howling is a 1977 horror novel by Gary Brandner. It was the inspiration for the 1981 film The Howling, although the plot of the film was only vaguely similar to that of the book....
novels) co-wrote the screenplay, the Howling II film is largely unrelated to his Howling II
The Howling II (novel)
The Howling II is a 1979 horror novel by Gary Brandner. It is the first sequel to his 1977 werewolf novel, The Howling. The novel was later republished under the alternative titles: The Howling II: The Return, and also Return Of The Howling.Despite the ongoing film series that began in the 1980s,...
novel from 1979, though it does introduce Eastern European customs and Romani into its werewolf mythology like the book.
The film was marketed with the tagline "The rocking, shocking new wave of horror!"
Plot
Ben White attends the funeral of his sister, journalist Karen White, the heroine of the previous filmThe Howling (film)
The Howling is a 1981 werewolf-themed horror film directed by Joe Dante. Based on the novel of the same name by Gary Brandner, the screenplay is written by John Sayles and Terence H. Winkless...
. Ben meets both Jenny Templeton, one of Karen's colleagues, and Stefan Crosscoe, a mysterious interloper who tells him Karen was a werewolf. Providing videotaped evidence of the transformation — and turning up to destroy Karen as her undead body rises from the grave — Crosscoe convinces Ben and Jenny to accompany him to Transylvania to battle Stirba, an immortal werewolf queen. Ben dons a Canadian tuxedo to prepare for the battle. Along the way, the trio encounter Mariana, another lusty werewolf siren, and her minion Erle.
Arriving in the Balkans, Ben and company wander through an ethnic folk festival, unaware that Stirba is off in her nearby castle already plotting their downfall. Eventually, the adventurers do battle with Stirba in an assault that involves disguised dwarves, mutilated priests, supernatural parasites, and surprise revelations.
Production
This film is the only Howling sequel that directly follows the original film's events (though presumably with a parallel-earth incongruities.) and is also the only Howling film to feature the input of the original novelist, Gary BrandnerGary Brandner
Gary Brandner is an American horror author best known for his werewolf themed trilogy of novels, The Howling. The first book in the series was loosely adapted as a motion picture in 1981...
. Brandner was critical of the original 1981 film
The Howling (film)
The Howling is a 1981 werewolf-themed horror film directed by Joe Dante. Based on the novel of the same name by Gary Brandner, the screenplay is written by John Sayles and Terence H. Winkless...
which was only a loose adaptation of his 1977 novel, and some elements of this sequel may have been deliberately divergent from the previous film, though some (such as this film's ret-conning of that film's ending to be a secret) seem to be accidental.
The film was shot on location in what was, at the time, the country of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
- for example in the ossuary in Mělník
Melnik
-Places:Bulgaria* Melnik, Bulgaria, a town in Bulgaria* Shiroka Melnishka Losa, a Bulgarian wine grape also known as MelnikCzech Republic* Mělník, a townUnited States* Melnik, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community...
(a town in Central Bohemia), which the story incorrectly claims to be in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
.
Co-stars Marsha Hunt and Christopher Lee previously appeared in Dracula AD 1972
Dracula AD 1972
Dracula A.D. 1972 is a 1972 Hammer Horror film directed by Alan Gibson, written by Don Houghton and starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Stephanie Beacham. Unlike earlier films in the Hammer Dracula series, Dracula A.D...
. In 1990, when Lee was cast in Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Gremlins 2: The New Batch is a 1990 American horror comedy film, and the sequel to Gremlins . It was directed by Joe Dante and written by Charles S. Haas, with creature designs by Rick Baker...
, one of the first things he did was apologize to director Joe Dante
Joe Dante
Joseph "Joe" Dante, Jr. is an American film director and producer of films generally with humorous and science fiction content....
(who also directed The Howling) for being in this film.
Reception
The film failed to garner as much attention or commercial success as the original film. In later years, The Howling II acquired a cult following, perhaps due to the presence of cult actors Sybil DanningSybil Danning
Sybil Danning is an Austrian actress known for her many roles in B movies, science fiction films, and action films.-Early life:Danning was born in Ried im Innkreis, Austria as Sybille Johanna Danninger...
, Reb Brown
Reb Brown
Reb Brown is an American actor.Known as superhero Captain America in the TV pilot/movies, he's also known for the 1983 cult classic, Yor, the Hunter from the Future, as well as the scifi film, Space Mutiny, and for the collaborations with director Bruno Mattei in films Strike Commando and Robowar ...
and Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee
Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, CBE, CStJ is an English actor and musician. Lee initially portrayed villains and became famous for his role as Count Dracula in a string of Hammer Horror films...
.
The film is mentioned in the Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
song "From a Motel 6" in the line "I climb where I can see - you're close but I won't reach. Blank stare at the TV- THE HOWLING II's on Channel 3 I drift off to sleep, while the snow falls on the screen".
Alternate versions
The theatrical version of Howling II...Your Sister is a Werewolf ran 87 minutes. This version was released on VHS from HBO / Cannon Home Video and Republic Home Video. The edited TV version included a new scene before the end credits, plus a brand new end credits sequence in order to replace to the nude shots of Sybil Danning in the R rated end sequence. The TV end credits also included music where the theatrical version was silent.Main cast
- Christopher LeeChristopher LeeSir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, CBE, CStJ is an English actor and musician. Lee initially portrayed villains and became famous for his role as Count Dracula in a string of Hammer Horror films...
- Stefan Crosscoe - Annie McEnroe - Jenny Templeton
- Reb BrownReb BrownReb Brown is an American actor.Known as superhero Captain America in the TV pilot/movies, he's also known for the 1983 cult classic, Yor, the Hunter from the Future, as well as the scifi film, Space Mutiny, and for the collaborations with director Bruno Mattei in films Strike Commando and Robowar ...
- Ben White - Marsha HuntMarsha Hunt (singer and novelist)Marsha Hunt is an American singer, novelist, actress and model.-Early life:Hunt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1946 and lived in North Philadelphia near 23rd and Columbia then in Germantown and Mount Airy for the first 13 years of her life...
- Mariana - Sybil DanningSybil DanningSybil Danning is an Austrian actress known for her many roles in B movies, science fiction films, and action films.-Early life:Danning was born in Ried im Innkreis, Austria as Sybille Johanna Danninger...
- Stirba - Judd OmenJudd OmenJudd Omen is an American film and television actor. He is most notable for his role as Mickey Morrelli, the convict in Pee-wee's Big Adventure . He also had supporting roles in Red Dawn and Howling II: Stirba - Werewolf Bitch...
- Vlad - Ferdy MayneFerdy Mayne-Early life:He was born Ferdinand Philip Mayer-Horckel, in Mainz, Germany. His German father was the Judge of Mayence, and his half-English mother gave singing lessons. Because his family was Jewish, he was sent to England to protect him from the Nazis, and he stayed with his aunt, the photographer...
- Erle