To help raise money, a film class decides to throw a horror movie marathon featuring old films. But one they stumble on, "Possesor" is connected to a cultist from the 1960s, and it soon seems he has returned to kill off theater patrons.
I stumbled across this film when video stores began switching to DVD and were selling their VHS for cheap. I had not heard of it at that point, but soon loved it, and its star, Jill Schoelen (who was great in this, as well as everything she has ever done). Perhaps as DVDs are replaced by Blu-Ray, I will again have the luck to acquire this title cheaply.
The film is well-scripted, really plays up classic films and film nerd knowledge, but what really sells it are the films featured in the film. Both "Mosquito" and "The Stench" call to mind the gimmicks of William Castle, and the film "Possessor" is a scary film all its own (and should be included as a bonus feature on the DVD).
I think the film is relatively unknown and not highly praised, as many may consider it "just another slasher", but it's really more deep and well thought out than that. This is not the basic teenagers dying flick, there is a real mystery and some odd back story -- how is the lead character's mother involved, for example? I would urge people to seek this one out, and if a decent DVD does not yet exist, I hope some company comes along and gives us a fully loaded one like this film deserves.
Popcorn
1991
Action / Comedy / Horror
Popcorn
1991
Action / Comedy / Horror
Plot summary
A "Leatherface" type murderer who wears other people's faces, kills at an all-night horrorthon at an old theatre put on by a bunch of film students. Maggie, the lead character, believes it's really Lanyard Gates, a crazed film maker who killed his family live on stage, fifteen years ago. And now he's back to kill his daughter, Sara, who is believed to be really Maggie.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
A Must-See Horror Flick of the Early 1990s
The midnight movie show massacre
A madman bumps off assorted people during a midnight movie marathon held at an old rundown theater. Director Mark Herrier keeps the entertaining story moving along at a zippy pace, maintains an amiable tongue-in-cheek tone throughout, and stages several ooga-booga shock set pieces with considerable flair before going for broke at the wild and exciting climax. Alan Ormsby's witty script not only pays affectionate homage to loveably cheesy 50's micro-budget clunkers (the deliberately tacky ersatz schlock movies are absolute hoots),but also puts a fresh and fun spin on 80's slasher fare. Moreover, Jill Schoelen contributes a winningly perky portrayal of the troubled Maggie, Tom Villard has a field day as deadly and deranged, yet still pitiable and tragic disfigured psycho Toby, and there's sturdy work from reliable veterans Dee Wallace as the secretive Suzanne, Tony Roberts as jovial professor Mr. Davis, Ray Walston as flamboyant showman Dr. Mhesyne, and Bruce Glover as lethal electrified convict Vernon. Kudos are also in order for Ronnie Taylor's slick cinematography and Paul Zaza's spirited shivery score. A hugely enjoyable flick.
Fun little horror flick that pays homage to 50's and 60's classics, all while it's an 80's stalker and slasher film within.
"Popcorn" from 1991 has to be one of the better feel good horror flicks that's a blend of old style horror meeting the present day and being a film within a film of the 80's slasher style. It's also a twist and tease of drama, suspense, fun comedy, and murder in a bloody slasher type of a way. Set in California at a college some film students decide to run an night horror marathon at an old run down cinema house. The students will do crazy special effects while the crowd watches the old vintage 50's and 60's films. Thru it during the night a crazy sadistic killer is on the loose causing an 80's slasher type stalker feel, from behind the curtain and thru the audience. As this creep has a connection to an old film called "The Possessor" plus this monster knows one of the film students from his past. Also horror queen legend Dee Wallace Stone has a part that's memorable as a damsel in distress who's kidnapped and has her mouth taped with white duct tape! Overall "Popcorn" provides thrills and chills to any horror film buff as it's a little independent horror gem to belong in any fan's chest!