This isn't just my favorite underrated horror comedy but it's also a film I like to watch every Halloween next to the Disney film "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow" and "Monsters Crash The Pajama Party" DVD. Whats so good about it? ON WITH THE REVIEW!
A man Dexter Ward (Steve Altman), an actress named Merissa Orlock (Teri Copley) and vampire slayer Van Helsing (Ace Mask) go to Transylvania for Merissa's fathers funeral. Not only do the three go to pay their respects but they are also in search of an evil book that could summon the evil one. The trio must get to it before Merissa's evil brother Lord Byron Orlock (Robert Vaughn) gets the book to become powerful and summon the evil one.
The characters are laugh out loud funny. Dexter Ward is the comic relief character and he never ever has a dull moment, he's always cracking jokes, making fun of the weird situations in the film and does some good impersonations, my favorite is his Elvis impersonation as he's being possessed by Elvis. Merissa is the modern day Marilyn Monroe who has her charm with a little bit of a twist on Madonna. She also gets constantly possessed by her ancestor and let me tell you, not only is she funny but she plays the split personality really well and convincingly. Van Helsing not only being a parody on the character from "Dracula", is another great character. He comes off mostly as the straight character but how he reacts to everything that's going on is what makes him funny. Finally there's Lord Byron Orlock played Oscar nominated actor Robert Vaughn who is just as funny as all the other main characters and not only is he a fun villain but like everyone else in this movie, he seems to be having a good time which is important in any comedy.
The comedy in this film is really great, it just keeps getting funnier and funnier every time I watch it. They parody tons of horror films and classic film horror characters, make fun of the many horror cliches, keep breaking the fourth wall, use stock footage to add to the films campy funny tone, say classic film lines, make clever puns on pop culture lines, things popping up out of nowhere and so so much more. Some of my favorite scenes in the movie is the opening with three classic slasher villains, Van Helsing's entrance, The Inn scene, When Dexter meets Boris Karloff, Bryon's spell chant, the seance scene and the list goes on. Oh and to you horror fans out there, they actually got Angus Scrimm to parody his famous character the tall man from "Phantasm". The films atmosphere is dark, campy and has a style between Mel Brooks and Jim Abrahams which are two comedic directors I really love. And to help add to the camp appeal is the fim's Producer and classic B movie director (who's directed countless films) Roger Coreman, who seems to have no problem making fun of his film making career. The music and songs in the film are really great and memorable. The score helps bring in the comedy and yet a playfully foreboding atmosphere. The songs "Give Me Action","Think Of The Royalties I'm Making" and "Caught In The Middle Of Love" are catchy and unforgettable and even though you can tell the actors are lip syncing, it still doesn't ruin the fun through its melody and visuals.
This movie is so much fun that I don't understand by it didn't receive a cult following or why critics weren't crazy about it. It's a really fun movie and gets better and better every time I watch it. Its funny, its entertaining and I personally its one of my favorite horror parody films of all time. It may not at all be as clever or groundbreaking as something like "Young Frankenstein", and it is very cheesy, but it's just as fun as watching a comedy film by Mel Brooks or the Zucker Brothers. If you haven't seen it, go look for it because I grantee you'll get some laughs from this film.
RATING 5/5
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