Artivels Undescribable Perfection

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Darth-Helmet 15 years ago, a motion picture called The Possessor which is almost like a snuff meets psychdelia film made by a man named Lanyard Gates who killed his family and destroyed the theater it was being filmed in. Maggie (Jill Scholen from The Stepfather) has been having bizarre realistic dreams of a killer and visions, her mother Suzanne (Dee Wallace Stone) is worried about her daughter with these nightmares and Maggie wants to be a script writer for Hollywood. Her friends decide to help reopen up the abandoned movie theater like Mark (Derek Rydell) and others to bring in classic gimmick ridden b- movies from the 50s/60s for nostalgic fun for everyone to attend. Professor Davis (Tony Roberts) and Dr. Mnesyne (Ray Walson) help bring in the stuff for the gimmicks to help the audience interact with the movies they watch in the gimmick horror movie marathon. A deformed Leatherface meets Phantom of the Opera type killer (Tom Villard) is on the loose in the theater during the showings, killing off the teens one by one until Maggie will find out who is the mysterious cretin.An entertaining and fun horror comedy from writer Alan Ornsby is a nice tribute to the William Castle gimmick movies of the 50s and 60s long before there was "Matinee". It deals with the gimmick movies as part of the plot which are influenced by the 50's/60's monster films with some slasher elements which helps the movie be a combo of both. The maniac in this movie is quite unique as he can change his face with the help of special mask-masking even voice disguising as his make up effects are really quite effective. The kills aren't really gory but quite mild like you would expect a gore-feast but this is more of a horror- comedy thriller in aspects and has some good suspense with a nice climax no doubt about it. Sure the acting isn't all that great except for Ray Waltson and Dee Wallace Stone whom are both talented actors but this is a low budget horror film here, the film is set in California but is actually filmed in Jamaica which is very unique as it's one of the rare horror films that are filmed on that island. There's even a funky reggae soundtrack thrown in since it makes sense being filmed in Jamaica, the movie has some surprises and thrills.The movie got some OK reviews and was a flop at the box-office but became a cult favorite on home video through the years. It's really an enjoyable slasher film and a tribute to William Castle's stuff.

Mark Turner I can remember when the movie POPCORN came out how great an idea I thought they had come up with. Movies within a movie and all paying tribute to one of the greatest promoters of horror films that ever lived, William Castle. Not directly mind you, but a tribute to the ballyhoo he was known for. Combine that with the current style of horror film involving teens in jeopardy and you know it had everything a horror fan could ask for.The story revolves around college student Maggie Butler (Jill Schoelen), majoring in film at the local university and living at home with her mother Suzanne (Dee Wallace). Dealing with some terrifying dreams Maggie keeps a record of them intending to use those nightmares for a film she wants to do one day. Suzanne is concerned about her daughter's nightmares but has her own issues to deal with when she's lured to the Dreamland Theater by a voice from her past.In an effort to come up with a unifying project and to generate funds for the fledgling film department Maggie's professor Davis (Tony Roberts) takes a suggestion made by her fellow student Toby (Tom Villard). The group decides to put on an all-night horror movie marathon. At first concerned about the time they have to do so, Davis agrees when he learns Toby has connections to a Dr. Mnesyne (Ray Walston), a memorabilia collector who has the films they need as well as the gimmicks that were used when the films were first released. Gaining access to the old Dreamland Theater, the group sets up cleaning the building and preparing for the big night.While preparing and checking out the items in the box they come across a short film and decide to watch it to see what it is. What they witness is a film by the legendary Lanyard Gates, a crazed film maker who took things to the extreme in an effort to create the most realistic film possible. So real that the last anyone knew of him he was shooting a film that resulted in his demise along with his followers, burned in a theater while filming the short the students are now watching.Not scared off by the film they carry on with their project. A giant mosquito is rigged to fly over the audience, electro-shock buzzers are placed in select seats and foul odors are prepared for a movie in odorama. The day comes, the audience fills the auditorium and the films begin. But something else is going on as well. One by one the various members of the group are being killed without the others being aware. Who is behind it all, who will survive and what it all has to do with Maggie and her dreams will be revealed by the end of the film.There are several things that make this movie work. The first and most obvious is the movies within the movie. Each of them has ties to old hokum live items that were used at one time or another. And the movies themselves are a hoot. They were also what led to the movie getting a new director halfway through as you'll find out in the extras.The second thing that works is the story itself. Using the tried and true theme made big in the 80s with a group of young people in jeopardy and being knocked off one by one keeps the theme of the horror films from them intact while combining it with those old movies at the same time. This nice blend combines to make an entertaining film in the end.Two performances stand out in the film. Schoelen does a great job as Maggie. The whole film hinges on her being believable and she is quite that here. The second is in Tom Villard who is great as Toby. The dedicated film fan who puts it all together could be played too broadly but he does it quite well here. The rest of the cast is great in their performances as well.Synapse has once again done a fantastic job of offering this movie in the best format possible with the cleanest looking transfer I've ever seen of it. It's a 2k scan of an archival 35mm interpostive. Extras include an audio commentary track by director Mark Herrier, Schoelen, Malcolm Danare, and special makeup effects artist Mat Falls, MIDNIGHT MADNESS: THE MAKING OF POPCORN documentary, ELECTRIC MEMORIES an interview with actor Bruce Glover, the theatrical trailer, television trailer and TV spots, a still gallery and reversible cover are by Chris MacGibbon.If you've never seen this film this is the way to do it, a treat for move fans as well as horror fans. Tame enough with little gore to be seen, safe enough to qualify for a PG-13 in today's world and still it's a solid horror film. For me this is one worth adding to your collection.

goteamweaver Spoilers ahead!Popcorn, a movie that was released in 1991, was one of those movies that I spent a lot of effort trying to watch when it came out. I distinctly remember trying to see it in the theater, but it being out of the theater before I could. I also remember renting it once or twice, and for some reason or another, never getting to watch it. Well, I finally got to watch it, and I am glad for that.When a group of film students decide to have an all night horror movie marathon at a local theater, luck falls their way. They get to not only show three classic (albeit fake) horror movies, and they manage to get their hands on the original gimmicks that went with the flicks. The first movie is "Mosquito", a movie about the attack of a giant mosquito. For this movie, they have a giant mosquito prop that they shoot through the theater over the heads of the film-goers (and eventually, straight through their teachers chest!). Then there is "The Attack of the Amazing Electrified Man", in which a man is executed in the electric chair, but doesn't die. All the seats in the theater are wired to deliver a mild shock to the movie goers (and a not-so-mild shock to one of the students!). Then there is "The Stench", which we don't really get to see enough of the movie to know what it is about, however, the students have a big smoke machine that they can add scents to (and one of the students is gassed to death in the bathroom!).While the students are going through the props that are so graciously loaned to them by Dr. Mnesyne (played by the great Ray Walston), they discover a reel of film that when watched, seems to be an odd art house style movie. Maggie (Jill Schoelen), however, recognizes the face in the film as someone she has seen in her dreams. Their teacher Mr. Davis (Tony Roberts) tells them that the creator of the film was a cult leader, and at one time had gone mad, and during the showing of the film, killed his entire family on stage, then burned down the theater, killing several members of his cult as well. Soon, people are going missing left and right, and it seems that the cult leader may be back from the dead!I am really happy I caught this movie finally after so many years. From all the things I have read about it, it seems that it suffered from a lot of problems during the film making process, some of which were replacing directors and main actresses, financial problems, and releasing problems. I found this movie to be a big change from a lot of the movies that were coming out in the late 80s/early 90s, as the killer is a little more original with the kills, and in general, the film is just fun to watch. The characters are likable, and even the reveal at the end of the movie was kind of a surprise for me. Sure, there are plot holes all through this movie, but it has a certain charm to it, that to me, really translates on the screen to a real enjoyable movie, and one that I am pretty sure I will be revisiting again.

gwnightscream This 1991 horror film stars Jill Schoelen, Tom Villard, Dee Wallace, Derek Rydell and Kelly Jo Minter. Schoelen (The Phantom of the Opera) plays film student, Maggie who has been having weird dreams and thinks about using them to write a film. Soon, she and her classmates have a chance to run an all-night horror film festival. That's when a mysterious, scarred killer starts wiping out the employees to get to Maggie. Maggie begins to wonder if the killer is someone from her past or not. The late, Villard (One Crazy Summer) plays Toby, Wallace (The Howling) plays Suzanne, Rydell plays Mark and Minter (Summer School) plays Cheryl. This isn't a bad horror flick and Schoelen and Villard are great in it. I recommend this.