Day 23:Popcorn

       Popcorn follows a college film student, Maggie and her film classes attempt to raise money for the program. The professors decide to host a horror marathon at a local theatre soon to be torn down. When reviewing the films they’re showing they come across a strange shirt entitled Possesor. The film strongly resembles a recurring dream Maggie has. They learn that it was the work of a lambasted director who used it to lead up to the live murder of his family at the premiere. They decide not to use  the film. Things don’t go smoothly at the Horror marathon though, as a mysterious figure is killing all the students and stealing their faces.

       This film actually started production with Alan Ormsby (actor in Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things) at the helm. He left early on though and the directors chair was filled by Porky’s actor Mark Herrier. Porky’s was directed by Bob Clark who also directed CSPWDT and does special effects in this film. It’s interesting to see that this group of guys has worked with each other for so long.

       There are three films being shown during the horror marathon: Mosquito, The Attack Of The Amazing Electrified Man, and The Stench. These three films are actually more entertaining than Popcorn is. It’s the movies way of poking fun at it’s own genre. This would go on to be a staple of 90’s slasher films. It’s strange though that Popcorn chooses to aim its satire at 50’s B movies as opposed to the slasher genre that it truly is.

         The special effects in Popcorn are the best part of the actual movie. The scenes with the killer and different faces being either removed or put on are really well done. There isn’t too much in the actual gore department. The killer is a burn victim and the effect is well done but not as memorable as Freddy or Cropsey.

        Released in 1991, the same year as HauntedWeen, Popcorn is another slasher film released during the genre’s down years. Like HauntedWeen, Popcorn is actually not bad. While it’s not quite as strong as the aforementioned it’s still a totally acceptable entry into the genre.

Body Count:4