Howling II: Your Sister Is A Werewolf - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (Limited Edition)

The most disturbing moment in Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf, aka Stirba - Werewolf Bitch, doesn't even happen until the end, just before the closing credits. That means, that in a horror movie about werewolves with plenty of gory special effects, erotic sequences of actors completely covered in clumps of hair, and copious amounts of bare breasts flopping about, audiences are made to wait for something even remotely creepy when everything is already said and done. And the scene in question where a short, stocky man dressed like a priest does an uncanny impersonation of Peter Lorre is not the sort of last-minute scare that hints at a sequel or an attempt to make viewers jump in their seats for the last time. It ultimately feels as though it was tacked on at the last minute, meant simply to create an eerie and ominous air that weirdly is of no consequence to the rest of the movie or the characters talking to the strange old man.

However, rather than thinking of it as a negative, this final scene is really part of the production's continued appeal — one of several reasons for its cult status and a fairly devoted fanbase to the franchise. Awfully bad as the movie objectively is, it is so in spectacularly hilarious ways that still prompt unintentional bursts of laughter while also admiring a few notable instances of a knowing production team aware of subculture trends at the time. If the weird conversation with the creepy old man doesn't leave viewers scratching their heads about what the hell that was for, then they'll quickly forget it with a post-credit sequence that works like a highlights reel of the movie's most striking moments to the tune of New Wave band Babel performing "The Howling." Although seeing the film's star Sybil Danning repeatedly, ahem, bare her best traits, I actually enjoyed the concert best because astute music fans can read Batcave, GBH, Specimen, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cramps and Alien Sex Fiend painted on the back walls. It shows that director Philippe Mora and his team try to live up to the movie's promotional tagline: "The Rocking, Shocking, New Wave of Horror!"

I wouldn't go so far as to suggest they do an excellent job at it, but, hey, at least they gave it that old college try. Even screen legend Christopher Lee joins the fun and shows he's a hip guy by walking into the nightclub donning some "rad shades" and pounding a few drinks. It's a brief moment of comic relief after opening with a stern reading and a funeral service. Truth is he enters the club because he's on the job, keeping tabs on a local L.A. wolf pack prowling the club scene like it were a delicatessen. Lee's gravely serious Stefan Crosscoe — even his name implies a glum individual with a face that would writhe in pain if it dared to smile — is a recluse lycanthrope hunter, who apparently sucks at being covert and his secret hideout is known to the mythical shape-shifters. It's these little minor details that make the story written by Gary Brandner, the original author of The Howling series, rather silly. But let's not quibble over such hairsplitting particulars when, hey, look! The movie features a performance from horror genre icon Christopher Lee!

The absurdity continues when for some unexplained reason, Stefan asks the help of disgruntled disbeliever Ben (Reb Brown), brother of the first's heroine Karen, and the weirdly keen journalist Jenny (Annie McEnroe), Karen's former colleague. Brown, who cult enthusiasts will immediately recognize from B-movie classic Yor, the Hunter from the Future, the terrifically bad Space Mutiny and Bruno Mattei's hysterically awful rip-off Robowar, does a decent enough job although he's far too tense and stiff to ever feel genuine. McEnroe, on the other hand, steals the show by distracting viewers with one of the most painfully terrible performances imaginable. She's completely devoid of emotion and reads her lines like they were the worst parody of Julie Hagerty's Elaine from Airplane! At times, she seems incapable of turning her neck, rigidly moving her entire body to talk to others. And she's suddenly expected to turn up the charm and put the moves on Brown as if sparks were flying from the instant they meet. Their sex scene is even yawn-inducing, for crying out loud.

Again, the schlocky silliness ironically makes Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf a fun watch rather than a head-shaking disappointment. And the amusement doesn't end there. Best known for other cult favorites like Mad Dog Morgan, The Beast Within and Communion with Christopher Walken, Mora bookends the story of hunting the immortal werewolf queen Stirba (Danning in outfits and teased-out hair forecasting the rise of 80s glam metal) in horror's usual stomping grounds, Transylvania, with the aforementioned club concert. Although demonstrating he's capable behind the camera, much of the movie plays out like Mora's resume to direct music videos. The Austrian-born queen of B-movies is made to wear uncomfortable-looking costumes while her minions Mariana (Marsha Hunt) and Vlad (Judd Omen) are tasked with the more challenging role of growls, spitting blood and joining a leather-clad orgy. The special effects are laughably cheap, such as the threesome sequence with actors covered in clumps of hair, but it makes for a fun time where Danning and Lee serve as the true highlights. (Movie Rating: 3/5)

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome, Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf howls its blood ritual on 4K Ultra HD as a two-disc package with a limited-edition slipcover. A Region-Free, dual-layered UHD66 disc sits comfortably opposite a Region A locked, BD50 copy containing a healthy selection of special features. Both discs are housed inside the standard black, eco-elite keepcase with reversible cover art and a sturdy cardboard slipcover. The package also includes a 20-page booklet with photos from the director's collection and an appreciation essay by Matt Serafini. At startup, the disc goes straight to an image of the title card with the usual menu options along the bottom and music playing in the background.

The hairy beasts show off their sexy blood ritual on 4K Ultra HD, providing a substantial but unexpected upgrade from previous releases. Restored and remastered from the original 35mm camera negatives, the native 4K transfer comes with remarkable clarity and definition, showcasing sharp details for the majority of the runtime. Several soft, blurry moments are the result of creative editing transitions and stylistic choices in the cinematography, such as the use of diffusion filters. 

An improved, spot-on contrast and brightness balance supplies a more dynamic, vivid picture with inky true blacks and tight, crisp specular highlights, which is crucial for this corny, atmospheric horror flick. We can better distinguish the finer details in the glowing eyes of the werewolves, the nighttime sequences and the darkest, murkiest shadows of the many candle-lit moments. A bold, richly saturated palette adds an energetic pop to the cheesy 80s aesthetic, bringing out the bold hues of the costumes and set design, and facial complexions appear natural with lifelike textures and tones. Awash in a noticeable layer of film grain, the 1.85:1 image has a lovely film-like quality to it with great depth and dimensionality. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 88/100)

The horror sequel howls and barks at home theaters with a satisfying DTS-HD Master Audio mono soundtrack. True to the original design, the action is restricted to the center of the screen, but a variety of background activity gives the presentation a broad sense of presence. Details are distinct and audible throughout, thanks to a strong and surprisingly extensive dynamic range. However, the lossless mix appears a bit limited at times, failing to offer much in the upper frequencies and feeling somewhat bright during the louder moments. Nevertheless, vocals remain clear and well-prioritized, allowing Christopher Lee and Sybil Danning's performances to truly shine. Most impressive is a satisfying low-end that provides some palpable oomph and depth to the music and the many action sequences. (Audio Rating: 82/100)

For this UHD edition, Vinegar Syndrome mixes some familiar supplements with new bonus material, all of which are housed in the accompanying Blu-ray disc. 

• NEW Audio Commentary with director Philippe Mora chatting with author and screenwriter Kelly Goodner
• NEW Lights, Camera, Werewolves? (HD, 35 min)
• NEW Lord of the Stricken Field (HD, 25 min)
• NEW A Romp Through Czechoslovakia (HD, 16 min)
• NEW Freaky, Sexy, Mad (HD, 16 min)
• NEW Thrown to the Wolves (HD, 11 min)
• NEW A Life Collaboration (HD, 11 min) with Philippe Mora
• Audio Commentaries features two tracks with Mora in the first and composer Steven Parsons and editor Charles Bornstein in the second, both moderated Michael Felsher
• Queen of the Werewolves (HD, 17 min)
• A Monkey Phase (HD, 15 min)
• Leading Man (HD, 14 min)
• Gag Reel (HD, 4 min)
• Still Gallery (HD)
• Trailer (HD)

Starring Christopher Lee and Sybil Danning, Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf, aka Stirba - Werewolf Bitch, is the unintentionally hilarious follow-up of Joe Dante's much-better werewolf feature, full of largely terrible performances and cheap-looking special effects. Ironically, the movie's schlocky silliness makes for a fun watch. Courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome, the cult horror feature howls its blood ritual on 4K Ultra HD with an excellent Dolby Vision HDR presentation, offering a notable step up from previous home video editions, and a satisfying DTS-HD MA mono soundtrack. With a healthy assortment of supplements to sift through, the overall UHD package makes for a Recommended addition to the 4K cult collection. 

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