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Werewolf protector’s zombie trek across Australia falters amid familiar tropes
Dead Howling follows a werewolf who protects two teenagers as they cross a zombie-ravaged Australia, but the review finds the film dull and heavily reliant on familiar apocalypse tropes. It argues that the supernatural premise undermines the harsher survival story the film tries to tell.
Joel Jackson plays Carter, a former scientist who became a werewolf after developing a serum to counter the plague. He escorts Megan and Billy towards a supposed safe zone in Perth; Temuera Morrison appears briefly as their uncle. The review singles out Carter forcing the teenagers to make their first kills as a moment of interest, while criticising the film’s bleak discussions and predictable ending. It became available on digital platforms on 2 November.
In short
- A werewolf protects two teenagers in zombie-ravaged Australia.
- The review calls the film derivative and lifeless.
- Dead Howling reached digital platforms on 2 November.
Explained simply
Dead Howling is an Australian horror film set during a plague that has turned people into zombies. Joel Jackson plays Carter, a former scientist who became a werewolf after trying to develop a treatment; he travels with teenagers Megan and Billy towards a safe zone in Perth.
Werewolves and zombies are familiar figures in horror films, while stories of people crossing dangerous terrain often focus on survival and difficult choices. The film’s mix of these elements sets up questions about how Carter protects the teenagers and what they must do to stay alive.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Dead Howling review – werewolf hunts zombies in tough-love apocalypse horror”.