Ranking The Howling Movies Worst To Best

After three sequels ranging from sub-par to absolutely disastrous, The Howling V: The Rebirth does the unthinkable and dares to be a really good, highly atmospheric horror tale.

The movie follows a group of strangers as they attend the re-opening of a castle in Hungary. Soon it transpires that each one bears a connection to the lycanthrope bloodline that inhabited the castle years before. One among the guests is a very active and hungry werewolf... but who?

The Rebirth is such an apt title for The Howling V as it truly is the shining jewel among the franchise's very questionable sequels. In what was no doubt a cost-cutting move, the film chooses a whodunit route, focusing on a lone wolf rather than a colony. This makes the movie play out much like a slasher or a werewolf-centric Agatha Christie mystery.

The Rebirth drips with atmosphere as the wind howls around impressive gothic sets with seemingly endless tunnels. The snowbound setting is a delightful change of pace for a series that previously favored sun-dappled deserts and woodland hideaways.

The captivating atmosphere is topped off by a ridiculously eerie choral score and haunting ambient sound design. There is so much visual appeal to this sequel that one can forgive a couple of performances that might be just the tiniest bit stilted. If you see one Howling sequel, make it this one.