Junior (1984) User Reviews

An Excellent Little Film

[valdron · 6 October 2001]

When I saw the box, I thought it would just be another slasher film, one of those endless country rip offs of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Friday the 13th." I was pleasantly surprised and astonished to find a movie that reminded me much more of "Thelma and Louise." Simply put, two 'bad girls' are released from Prison, after a nasty encounter with a wannabe pimp and a lecherous gas station attendent, they decide to settle down and go straight, renting a small marina and going into legit business. Turns out the marina is party central for the local rednecks. Much of the movie turns into the escalating conflict between the girls and the rednecks, lead by Junior. To say more would be to spoil it. It's a B movie of course, not art, there's abundant titilation and nudity or semi-nudity, there's no shortage of gore effects, violence, and all the stuff we've come to expect from a sleazy B-movie. On the other hand, it's all very well done. The nudity and semi-nudity are never presented flatly, but instead come across as both natural to the situation and very sexy. The gross out bits are well done and always introduced suddenly into natural situations, which enhance their effectiveness. The action scenes are also very well done and the quality and level of pyrotechnics are quite impressive, there's a real effort to do it differently and to make it interesting. The plot delivers its jolts in a serviceable manner and even manages to throw in a few twists. The two female leads are terrific, considering their characters are ex-cons, ex-hookers and start the movie by stealing a car, in a normal movie in this genre, they'd be doomed. In this movie they go on to become heroines, watchable, appealling, sometimes flawed and harsh and unpleasant, but ultimately likeable. They aren't sugar coated, but you find yourselves rooting for them. They're like Thelma and Louise, only tougher. Bottom line, it's a drive in theatre style B movie, without pretensions, but it is a superior example of the breed. This was the first film of Marcy Hedy Lynn, who wrote, produced, directed, did cinematography, art direction and editing. For all I know, she may have acted. As a one woman show, and as a debut, this is an extraodinarily polished work. Marcy Hedy Lynn did four other films after this, up to 1994. Not much information on the others. Based on this, I would have to guess that she was an extraordinarily gifted regional film maker whose career was based on the video marketplace before the majors moved in and squeezed everyone out. If anyone has any information on her, or on her films, please let me know.

o man

[prestonmyer · 1/10 · 10 April 2003]

this movie was so bad. it's not even camp funny. it was just plain out hard to watch. the arnold movie by same name is better, and that says so much. wouldn't bother w/ it unless you are real bored, or like with someone you hate alot.

you guys are all reviewing Jim Henley's Junior, not this one (oops)

[mswhimwham · 10/10 · 28 November 2005]

I'm Marcy Hedy Lynn and I did direct a film called Junior in 1984--the film that's on this very page of the IMDb--but my film is NOT the film all of you have been reviewing here mistakenly. The film I made in 1984 stars the chubby gay guy from the Daily Show--Frank DeCaro--in his younger days--as the unruly mustachioed adult "child" of a conventional (if hip) lesbian couple. They can't get him to behave, he rebels--ridiculously, with a modicum of gore. (let's just say there are a lot of raw chickens involved). The film did really well on the alternative / experimental festival circuit 20 years ago and won a few decent awards too at the time, but it is NOT the female buddy prison chick picture / feature you are all discussing (am assuming by now you realize my plot is quite different from the plot of the film you've all seen). THAT film, made in Canada by a director named JIM HENLEY has 2 titles (one was indeed "Junior") and was made in 1985 and it's ALSO here in the IMDb. Here's the link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0089392/ . Sorry but I don't recall the other title. That film, which is still out on video, had a theatrical release to my knowledge whereas mine played public TV and had an indie video release for a couple years but was not in commercial theaters. SO please if you're going to review Jim Henley's Junior, please don't post it here (dang it). (And if my film is ever re-released or you're one of the few who do have a copy of it, I'd LOVE to see a real review of it!). cheers,- Marcy (the director of Junior-the-lesbian-chicken-murder-movie you didn't see)