Elvira is one of the most iconic horror host/hostesses that have given the horror genre a good name. As a kid from the 80's despite never able to see "Movie Macabre" as it was on late night after all, I've always seen and heard about her from the commercials she's done, the pinball games based on her; even if you're not a fan of horror which I actually wasn't at the time you still caught a glimpse of her from something. I wouldn't say I had a crush on her (well ok maybe a little, I was attracted to her, who would be) I just really liked her presence as she not just had interesting attire almost like Morticia's dress. But what I love about her is she had this playful fun sharp charisma about her, that made you laugh and want to be friends with her. For the record I actually did get to meet and get a autograph from Elvira/Casandra Peters herself as she came to my town Seattle, WA and the annual Cryptcon.
This is one of my favorite TV to movie adaptation films, ok I know it's not on a TV series that it's on a character for a movie show; but you must realize that this film came out before TV to movie adaptations had rules. After seeing this movie, I can't help but think why no other horror host hasn't had a movie yet; movie on Joe Bob Briggs or even Svengoolie those would be something.
Not a whole lot I can say about this film; the plotline isn't really anything special as it's clearly the typical fish out of water premise on the outsider coming into a boringly normal town. Also, there is the other plotlines from Elvira goal in raising money to make a show production possible and a family secret for her to uncover before an evil sorcerer gets possession of it, basically your charity and MacGuffin motifs. Yeah, all those things we've all seen in numerous other movies, by its nature it's really a clothesline, as this film were clearly here for Elvira herself and what she does given the circumstances and as usual she doesn't disappoint as Elvira is being well Elvira.
There are a lot of clever gags from some of the visuals to the verbal which this film excels in. Elvira you can say could almost be a female Deadpool as just as him she shoots out the puns and the sharp humor lines faster than she can draw out her dagger. It's just fun just seeing her do her thing and being her under the stressful and even dangerous circumstances she's in.
There are just a lot of memorable lines and moments, I won't give too much away as part of the joy in this film and any comedy is discovering it for yourself, but I'll just say a few things I like.
Really like the beginning where we see her doing her show "Movie Macabre" and we see her give her commentary on how bad the film we seen is. It's funny because we've all done this to certain stinkers, we've sat though from a horror show. But also, this predates the programs "Mystery Science Theater 3000", "Rifftrax" and others that have made bad movie mockery an art form.
Though the other thing was after the show just seeing her drive that car of her's which is one of my favorite movie cars of all time (hopefully they'll be a licensed toy replica of that car somewhere along the line) , it's kind of a black Cadillac but it's designed her way which says "Elvira" all the way from the license plate, steering wheel which has chains and the five-star pentagram, black color, and other dark decorations. It's just funny how she is practically driving at almost top speed the whole way but shows she's a person that loves doing her own thing and not caring about the rules (at least ones that are unfair).
Even like that Elvira has a pet which is this mysterious cute dog named Thunk; he's one of my fictional pet characters up there with Luna and Artimis from "Sailor Moon". Like the punk style she made the dog into but also the dog turns out to be useful as we there's more to the dog than meets the eye.
It's funny how despite the people against her in the town, who are mainly people that don't get out of town much and breathe reality, Elvira is able to make a lot of friends. It's funny how she does it effortlessly not hard to see why as most of the male populace (the good kind) is attracted to her and doesn't think twice in helping her out. But just her bright persona which helps her socialize better and even helps people like this one repressed unhappy teen girl, you can tell Elvira is the uplifting friend she's been waiting for.
Even like the final conflict with the sorcerer played well by Mogan Shepard, I'll admit I was surprised that the actor whom I remember as Dr. Zito from "MacGyver" and the voice of "Limburger" from "Biker Mice from Mars" was in this movie. He fits well as he's a good villain, he's the archetypical evil sorcerer but he does it well and as we see Elvira bounces off well as she's a contrast to his sinister and creepy nature. Really like the makeup work on him as we see him getting more powerful and mad at Elvira, he just keeps looking worse which shows the extent of his corruption. Liked seeing how Elvira was holding her own against danger from her unpredictable abilities, sassy comical nature, to just plain good luck which she has loads up as much as "Lupin the Third".
The only bad thing was that this didn't become a movie series, personally I thought Elvira would have had more movies much like with the Ernest film series (well sort of) as Elvira is also another comedy icon. Would have loved to see what more adventure/misadventures Elvira gets in, though we did get another Elvira film a straight to video film from Anchor Bay which was decent but could've been better. Though I can't fret as there actually was a licensed comic book series based on her character and is still currently running, so if you want more hostess with the most then give those a read.
If you're a fan of the horror host Elvira or even just a simple comedy fan looking for something else in the "Fish out of Water" subgenre, let along looking for a TV to film adaptation that's good then this film just like any film that premieres on "Movie Macabre" is at least worth a look.
Rating: 3 stars.
This is one of my favorite TV to movie adaptation films, ok I know it's not on a TV series that it's on a character for a movie show; but you must realize that this film came out before TV to movie adaptations had rules. After seeing this movie, I can't help but think why no other horror host hasn't had a movie yet; movie on Joe Bob Briggs or even Svengoolie those would be something.
Not a whole lot I can say about this film; the plotline isn't really anything special as it's clearly the typical fish out of water premise on the outsider coming into a boringly normal town. Also, there is the other plotlines from Elvira goal in raising money to make a show production possible and a family secret for her to uncover before an evil sorcerer gets possession of it, basically your charity and MacGuffin motifs. Yeah, all those things we've all seen in numerous other movies, by its nature it's really a clothesline, as this film were clearly here for Elvira herself and what she does given the circumstances and as usual she doesn't disappoint as Elvira is being well Elvira.
There are a lot of clever gags from some of the visuals to the verbal which this film excels in. Elvira you can say could almost be a female Deadpool as just as him she shoots out the puns and the sharp humor lines faster than she can draw out her dagger. It's just fun just seeing her do her thing and being her under the stressful and even dangerous circumstances she's in.
There are just a lot of memorable lines and moments, I won't give too much away as part of the joy in this film and any comedy is discovering it for yourself, but I'll just say a few things I like.
Really like the beginning where we see her doing her show "Movie Macabre" and we see her give her commentary on how bad the film we seen is. It's funny because we've all done this to certain stinkers, we've sat though from a horror show. But also, this predates the programs "Mystery Science Theater 3000", "Rifftrax" and others that have made bad movie mockery an art form.
Though the other thing was after the show just seeing her drive that car of her's which is one of my favorite movie cars of all time (hopefully they'll be a licensed toy replica of that car somewhere along the line) , it's kind of a black Cadillac but it's designed her way which says "Elvira" all the way from the license plate, steering wheel which has chains and the five-star pentagram, black color, and other dark decorations. It's just funny how she is practically driving at almost top speed the whole way but shows she's a person that loves doing her own thing and not caring about the rules (at least ones that are unfair).
Even like that Elvira has a pet which is this mysterious cute dog named Thunk; he's one of my fictional pet characters up there with Luna and Artimis from "Sailor Moon". Like the punk style she made the dog into but also the dog turns out to be useful as we there's more to the dog than meets the eye.
It's funny how despite the people against her in the town, who are mainly people that don't get out of town much and breathe reality, Elvira is able to make a lot of friends. It's funny how she does it effortlessly not hard to see why as most of the male populace (the good kind) is attracted to her and doesn't think twice in helping her out. But just her bright persona which helps her socialize better and even helps people like this one repressed unhappy teen girl, you can tell Elvira is the uplifting friend she's been waiting for.
Even like the final conflict with the sorcerer played well by Mogan Shepard, I'll admit I was surprised that the actor whom I remember as Dr. Zito from "MacGyver" and the voice of "Limburger" from "Biker Mice from Mars" was in this movie. He fits well as he's a good villain, he's the archetypical evil sorcerer but he does it well and as we see Elvira bounces off well as she's a contrast to his sinister and creepy nature. Really like the makeup work on him as we see him getting more powerful and mad at Elvira, he just keeps looking worse which shows the extent of his corruption. Liked seeing how Elvira was holding her own against danger from her unpredictable abilities, sassy comical nature, to just plain good luck which she has loads up as much as "Lupin the Third".
The only bad thing was that this didn't become a movie series, personally I thought Elvira would have had more movies much like with the Ernest film series (well sort of) as Elvira is also another comedy icon. Would have loved to see what more adventure/misadventures Elvira gets in, though we did get another Elvira film a straight to video film from Anchor Bay which was decent but could've been better. Though I can't fret as there actually was a licensed comic book series based on her character and is still currently running, so if you want more hostess with the most then give those a read.
If you're a fan of the horror host Elvira or even just a simple comedy fan looking for something else in the "Fish out of Water" subgenre, let along looking for a TV to film adaptation that's good then this film just like any film that premieres on "Movie Macabre" is at least worth a look.
Rating: 3 stars.