"HORRORVISION"
2001 - HORROR...R Rating...COLOR/70 Minutes...Plus about 15 Minutes of Add Ons!
DIRECTOR: Danny Draven
(Who also contributed a great Gothic score!)
CAST: Jake Leonard, Maggie Rose
Fleck, Brinke Stevens, James Black, Ariauna Albright, Chuck Williams
WRITTEN BY: Scott Phillips
PRODUCED BY: J.R. Bookwalter, Charles
Band & Chuck Williams
At the end of February, I received a promotional package from the gang
at "TEMPE VIDEO". Included with a T-Shirt, and several posters, was
the FULL MOON video release of "HORRORVISION". The video also featured
a lengthy documentary about the cast, crew and directors of this novel
film.
I'm not sure why I received the packet. I may have won a contest, or
I might have just been lucky. In any case, I'd like to see more from
them. I shall endeavor, despite these gifts, to be as honest with my
review as possible.
The film revolves around Dez, played by Bruce Campbell look-a-like,
Jake Leonard. His girlfriend Dazzy, played by Maggie Rose Fleck is
very likeable and a tad fragile, despite her obvious anarchistic
lifestyle.
We are introduced to the tragic couple before a fateful trip to one of
Dez's clients. The chemistry is there. Unfortunately Dazzy's screen
time is limited.
Dez's protege apparently supplies him with porno pics for his web sites.
Toni, played by veteran "B Film" star Brinke Stevens, has chanced upon
a mysterious web site named "HORRORVISION.COM" which when visited, zaps
the victim into a deadly, digital world.
Dez and Dazzy find her inexplicably absent from her studio which
serves as her work place and parlour. Upon further inspection, they
discover the promised disc and return home.
Dazzy becomes the next victim of the deadly web site, when Dez installs
the disc, which immediately links him to the web site. He becomes
frantic as he discovers his PC has become compromised.
While desperately trying to turn off the program, Dazzy is attacked by
some form of electrical energy which seems to dissolve her into
"digital information".
(The effects team did an admirable job fabricating these scenes. They
are imaginative and frankly, quite shocking!)
A frantic Dez returns to Toni's studio to search for answers. He
discovers a bugged-out Ariauna Albright desperate for a fix. She is
angry and venomous, discarding any sensuality she might once have had
as one of Toni's models.
After an unsatisfactory interrogation of the wanton druggie, Dez returns
to his car in a nearly empty, parking garage.
Here he meets the enigmatic "Bradbury" sitting atop his vehicle, attired
in a sleeveless black cloak. Bradbury, played by James Black, is the
very competent actor who played the Security Chief in the under-rated
Sci-Fi TV series, "The Burning Zone".
They exchange a few philosophical missives and an
angry Dez takes off.
After an exceedingly long drive through the streets of LA, he checks into
a seedy hotel with an acerbic night clerk. He finally settles in, trying
to watch the tube, eventually nodding off. When...
...ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! His palm pilot left upon the night stand,
transmutates into a mechanical millipede with deadly intentions. Not
since "PHANTASM" have I seen a more effective device! After a comical
battle, Dez finally conquers his metallic adversary and quits the hotel.
(I began to wonder at this point in the film whether Dez was also in the
digital netherworld, or just dreaming. Had he also experienced the
fate of Dazzy? For the film's reality to work, he needs to be somewhere
other than his starting point.)
Throughout his quest, we are given subtle background hints that all is
not kosher in "La La Land". Violence is rampant. Apparently escalating
over the normal levels so patently obvious in films about big cities.
(A tip of the hat here to the economy of these scenes. A little bit can
go a long way!)
Once again he encounters Bradbury. Convinced of the inexplicable change
in his world, he recruits this "Caped Crusader" in his quest for answers.
The rest of the film, aside from the extensive auto tours, is filled with imaginative, creepy, threatening, and clever special effects. There is a touch of the Cronenberg classic "VIDEODROME" here. Not just evident in the visionary sfx. We are given a taste of our own technologies running rampant. Taking control of our lives, despite their inherent promises of freedom.
Dez initially tries to solve the mystery of his love Dazzy. As his quest evolves, he finds himself saddled with something far more complexing than saving a damsel in distress. Our heroes are handed a mystery filled with insane visions of terror, and in the best tradition of the Knights of the Round Table, they meet it head on.
The mystery will remain so, until you get off your duffs and seek out this competent film. While watching this little teaser, remember it doesn't
take millions of bucks to make a decent flick. A little imagination, a few likeable actors with enthusiasm, and a notion of what audiences like is the real key to filmmaking.
For those of you only satisfied with those big budget, blockbuster, feel-good hits of the season...stay home. For
those of you with the adventurous spirit, the vision to see something unique...go to Blockbuster and rent,
or better yet, buy..."HORRORVISION".
Incidentally, I thoroughly enjoyed the documentary add-on to the video. It was obvious that cast and crew alike, enjoyed filming this project. I'll bet it was a kick to be on that set.
If FULL MOON keeps offering us film like this, I may have to stop criticizing them!
For more info about HORRORVISION, see:
HORRORVISION
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For more information about FULL MOON PICTURES, visit:
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And for more information about TEMPE ENTERTAINMENT, visit:
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