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Horror Show, The |
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A cop finally
tracks down an infamous serial killer
Max Jenke and puts him in the electric chair. But just
before Max dies he gives the cop a promise to come
after him and his family. And soon the cop is
haunted by weird dreams involving Max.
This was actually supposed to be a second sequel in
the House series, originally titled House III, but that
is completely irrelevant since both the film's plot and
tone has nothing to do with the earlier House films.
This is simply another Nightmare on Elm Street rip-off,
and not a very good one...
We learn early on that this can't be very good since
Alan Smithee (an infamous pseudonym used by directors
and writers ashamed of their work) is credited for the
screenplay during the pre-credits which features
needless, "cute" footage of the cop's family videos.
Then we jump directly to a nightmare/flashback (the
film is filled with them) where we get to know
how the cop and his doomed partner (who's also black -
you get the drill) track down killer Max. Even though
we're only a few minutes into the film clichés are
presented right after each other. Like any cop thriller
the cop sneaks around the killer's lair, finding bodies
(some perhaps intentionally silly stuff are presented
here, like two legs spinning around in a meat-blender),
having a dramatic good-bye to his partner who ends up
unarmed (literally!) and finally faces Max in a
showdown where a little girl's head is cut off. Nice.
Then we move on to the world's least realistic
execution, which goes on forever. The killer is
played for comic relief and curses a lot, blurting
out goofy lines like "I'm coming back to fuck you up".
Scary indeed. Then he asks to be buried with his
meat-cleaver which he slayed all his victims with.
Hmm, wonder if he'll come back from the grave?
All this might sound fun for horror-buffs but it's
all done with very slow pace and more sneaking around
rather than gore and splatter. And that goes for the
rest of the film. The title sounds like a gore-filled
horror film, but don't be fooled! This is just a dull,
supernatural thriller with lots of clichés, lights
that go out, evil laughs heard from the basement and
a very low body-count.
Luckily Lance Henriksen plays the cop. Henriksen is
a trusty and always sympathetic veteran actor who
always manage to create a believable character. But
here he almost fails, as the script is so weak. His
family is supposed to be cute and likable but that
fails also since they're all badly acted. The
daughter is a tramp and the son an annoying brat.
When they're put in jeopardy by the killer, you
just wish for him to ice them.
So there you go. A bad movie where not much happens.
Half the movie is played out in the basement where
the evil spirit of Max seems to possess the oven
(don't ask). There's one lame murder, lots of spooky
going-ons, flamboyant special effects, pathetic
suspense a la "don't-go-looking-for-the-cat-in-the-
basement" with some family drama in between. Things
really get out of hand when the family's turkey comes
to life during dinner. Talk about symbolism...
Several severed heads, one of them exploding on a plate.
A house filled with blood (look for the scene where
Henriksen washes off the sink... hehe). Lots of
meat-cleaver action, in the chest and in the arm.
Scanners-like special effects in the execution scene.
Some gross-out moments, but far from enough for a film
called The Horror Show.
Some typically bad 80s rock music and Elm Street-like
synth score.
Dull Elm Street rip. Some gore, some special effects,
but for 90 min not much really happens. Lance Henriksen
is good as always and is really the sole good thing
about the film. If you liked funny House and House II:
The Second Story - don't watch this one, cause this
is no fun at all.
Review By: Slicer-Dicer
