Frightmare (1981 film)

Last updated
Frightmare
Frightmareposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Norman Thaddeus Vane
Written byNorman Thaddeus Vane
Produced byHenry Gellis
Hedayat Javid
Callie Wright
Patrick M. Wright
Starring Ferdy Mayne
Luca Bercovici
Jennifer Starrett
Nita Talbot
Barbara Pilavin
CinematographyJoel King
Edited byDoug Jackson
Music byJerry Mosely
Production
company
Screenwriters Production Co.
Distributed bySaturn International
Release date
September 9th 1983 UK
Running time
86 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$120,000 [2]

Frightmare (originally known as The Horror Star, [3] and also known as simply Horror Star) is a 1983 American supernatural slasher film written and directed by Norman Thaddeus Vane. It stars Ferdy Mayne, Luca Bercovici, Jennifer Starrett, Nita Talbot and Barbara Pilavin, along with Jeffrey Combs in his horror film acting debut. The film's plot follows a group of drama students who decide to kidnap the corpse of a recently deceased horror movie star. By disrupting his tomb, they unwittingly release an ancient black magic that begins consuming them one by one.

Contents

The film was distributed by Saturn International, and has been released on home media by Troma Entertainment and Vinegar Syndrome, among other companies.

Plot

A group of drama students idolize their favorite horror film star, Conrad Ragzoff. In the beginning, Conrad is acting in a commercial for dentures, and the director stops the filming because he does not like Conrad's performance. While the director sits on the edge of the balcony, an angry Conrad pushes him off with his cane. Later, Conrad visits a school and talks about his performances, only to faint under excitement. One of the drama students, Meg, revives him. Later, as Conrad sits in his bed, his obese director Wolfgang visits him. After a long talk about his death arrangements, Conrad closes his eyes and tricks the director into believing he is dead. Then, the director denounces him until Conrad springs up and smothers him with a pillow. After Conrad dies, the seven drama students, Meg, Saint, Bobo, Eve, Donna, Oscar, and Stu, go to the cemetery after dark, they sneak into the tomb where Conrad's coffin resides. The lights turn on and they see a film of Conrad stating that he welcomes them into his tomb, unless, he says, they have broken in. Creeped out, Meg asks them not to take Conrad, but they do, and take him to an old mansion where they stay for the night.

That night, Conrad's coffin explodes, and he rises from the dead. Later, Oscar and Donna are having sex but Donna says she is scared. Oscar goes to investigate and has his tongue ripped out by Conrad in the attic. Donna becomes worried and walks outside only to see Conrad, who uses black magic to set her on fire. Later, the five remaining teens realize that Oscar and Donna are missing and begin to look for them. Bobo however is put in a trance by Conrad and walks to Conrad's tomb, only to suffocate from vapors that are released inside the crypt. Eve decides to watch a movie and is lured out of her room by the sound of Donna's voice, only to be smashed into the wall by Conrad's coffin, and hidden with Oscar's body.

Meg, Saint, and Stu realize that the other two are now missing and begin to panic, and Meg decides she's going to tell the police. Stu runs upstairs to get a flashlight since Saint's car will not start, only to be decapitated by Conrad who then sends his severed head out onto the front lawn of the mansion. Meg and Saint venture outside looking for Stu and find Donna's burnt body, and hurry back inside. Saint decides to try to fix his car, while Conrad traps Meg in the attic, where she impales him with a cross. Saint safely hides her unconscious body and takes Conrad's body with him to put back in the crypt, while the police arrive to the mansion finding a delirious Meg and all her dead friends. At the cemetery, Conrad attacks Saint and puts him in the crematorium, and goes back to his grave. A while later, his wife and his psychic friend arrive to say their final goodbyes to the "dead" Conrad, only Conrad kills his psychic after she steals his jewelry from his body, and his wife locks the crypt for forever. The final scene shows a video being played on the television installed in the crypt of Conrad informing the audience that hell is actually quite pleasant and hopes that more respect will be shown for the dead.

Cast

Production

Some of the horror movie memorabilia seen in the film was provided by Forrest J Ackerman. [3] [5]

Release

Several sources list the film's release year as 1981, [6] [7] [8] including home video distributor Vinegar Syndrome. [9] Other sources list the release year as 1982, [5] [10] and still others list it as 1983. [4] [11] [12]

Critical reception

A contemporary review in Variety called Frightmare a "misguided horror spoof." [6] Bill Gibron of DVD Talk referred to it as "a monotonous mess, made even less memorable by its lack of anything closely resembling a movie – like characters, plot or purpose." [13] He concluded that the film is "far too slow and somber for a modern macabre audience, and its supposedly ingenious premise pales in comparison to those that would later really fidget with the scary movie dynamic." [13] However, in his book The Essential Monster Movie Guide, writer Stephen Jones called the film an "enjoyable low-budget horror thriller." [5] Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting wrote that the film "has some pretty great death sequences", and called it "'80s slashers meets Gothic horror, but full on weird." [14]

Home media

Frightmare was released on VHS by Vestron Video. [7] In May 2005, it was released on DVD by Troma Entertainment. [13] [15] On October 20, 2015, the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome and later by UK distributors 88 Films. [9] [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Orgy of the Dead</i> 1965 American film

Orgy of the Dead is a 1965 American erotic horror film directed by Stephen C. Apostolof and written by cult film director Ed Wood, who also adapted the screenplay into a novel. The film belongs to the genre of "nudie-cuties", defined as narrative-based films featuring female nudity that originated from earlier films featuring striptease performances and burlesque shows.

<i>The Toxic Avenger</i> (1984 film) 1984 American superhero black comedy splatter film by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman

The Toxic Avenger is a 1984 American superhero black comedy splatter film directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman from a screenplay by Joe Ritter, based on a story by Kaufman. The film was produced and released by Troma Entertainment. It is the first installment in The Toxic Avenger film series and generated a media franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troma Entertainment</span> American film production and distribution company

Troma Entertainment is an American independent film production and distribution company founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in 1974. The company produces low-budget independent films, or "B movies", primarily of the horror comedy genre, all geared exclusively to mature audiences. Many of them play on 1950s horror with elements of farce, parody, gore, and splatter.

<i>The Fearless Vampire Killers</i> 1967 film by Roman Polanski

The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck is a 1967 comedy horror film directed by Roman Polanski, written by Gérard Brach and Polanski, produced by Gene Gutowski and starring Polanski with his future wife Sharon Tate, along with Jack MacGowran and Alfie Bass, and featuring Ferdy Mayne.

<i>Redneck Zombies</i> 1987 American comedy horror trash film directed by Pericles Lewnes

Redneck Zombies is a 1987 American horror comedy Z movie, directed by Pericles Lewnes and released by Troma Entertainment.

<i>Dolly Dearest</i> 1991 American film

Dolly Dearest is a 1991 American supernatural horror slasher film starring Denise Crosby, Rip Torn, Sam Bottoms, Chris Demetral, Candace Hutson and Lupe Ontiveros. The film was initially supposed to be direct-to-video, but it did get a limited theatrical release in the Midwestern United States. Despite being critically panned, it has been sometimes credited as being the inspiration for the 2014 film Annabelle.

<i>Draculas Dog</i> 1977 American horror film

Dracula's Dog, also known as Zoltan... Hound of Dracula, is a 1977 American supernatural horror film directed by Albert Band and starring Michael Pataki and José Ferrer. Its plot revolves around a Doberman Pinscher who is turned into a vampire by a member of the Dracula family, who is also a vampire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferdy Mayne</span> German-British actor (1916–1998)

Ferdy Mayne or Ferdie Mayne was a German-British stage and screen actor. Born in Mainz, he emigrated to the United Kingdom in the early 1930s to escape the Nazi regime. He resided in the UK for the majority of his professional career. Working almost continuously throughout a 60-year-long career, Mayne was known as a versatile character actor, often playing suave villains and aristocratic eccentrics in films like The Fearless Vampire Killers, Where Eagles Dare, Barry Lyndon, and Benefit of the Doubt.

<i>Zombiegeddon</i> 2003 American film

Zombiegeddon is a 2003 American horror comedy film directed by Chris Watson. It stars Ari Bavel, Paul Darrigo, Felissa Rose, Edwin Neal, Linnea Quigley, Tom Savini, and Uwe Boll. It was distributed by Troma Entertainment, It was released to DVD on July 11, 2006.

<i>Christmas Evil</i> 1980 American slasher film

Christmas Evil is a 1980 American slasher film written and directed by Lewis Jackson and starring Brandon Maggart. The plot follows a deranged man obsessed with Santa Claus who eventually goes on a murderous rampage dressed in a Santa Claus suit. Since its release, it has gained a cult following, including praise and repeated viewings by director John Waters.

<i>Fortress of Amerikkka</i> 1989 American film

Fortress of Amerikkka is a 1989 American action film directed by Eric Louzil and distributed by Troma Entertainment.

<i>Blades</i> (film) 1989 American horror comedy film

Blades is a 1989 American horror comedy film distributed by Troma Entertainment and directed and edited by Thomas R. Rondinella, who also co-wrote the film with producers William R. Pace and John P. Finegan. Its plot concerns a series of brutal murders occurring at a prestigious country club's golf course, which are apparently the work of a possessed lawn mower.

<i>The Hanging Woman</i> 1973 Spanish horror film

La orgía de los muertos a.k.a. The Hanging Woman, Beyond the Living Dead, Return of the Zombies and Bracula: Terror of the Living Dead, is a 1972 Spanish/ Italian horror film directed by José Luis Merino, starring Paul Naschy and Dyanik Zurakowska. The film was shot in March 1972, but wasn't shown in Spanish theaters until September 3, 1973. It was shown theatrically in the U.S. in 1974 as The Hanging Woman, and then was later re-released there as Beyond the Living Dead. It was released in Germany on April 6, 1976 as Der Totenchor der Knochenmanner/ Death Chorus of the Skeletons, and re-released in Germany on March 1, 1977 as Die Bestie aus dem Totenreich/ The Beast from the Death Realm. It was shown in the U.K. as Zombies - Terror of the Living Dead, in France as Les Orgies Macabres, and in Australia as Bracula, Terror of the Living Dead.

<i>Mothers Day</i> (1980 film) 1980 American rape and revenge slasher film by Charles Kaufman

Mother's Day is a 1980 American rape and revenge slasher film directed, co-written and produced by Charles Kaufman, brother of Troma Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Kaufman. The plot focuses on three women on a camping excursion who fall victim to two deranged, murderous young men and their unhinged mother. The film contains elements of the satire, thriller and slasher genres.

<i>Spookies</i> 1986 film

Spookies is a 1986 American independent horror film directed by Brendan Faulkner and Thomas Doran, with additional footage directed by Eugenie Joseph. It stars Felix Ward, Dan Scott, Alec Nemser, and Maria Pechukas, and follows a group of partying teenagers who find an abandoned mansion and become trapped inside as a warlock tries to sacrifice the group with the intention of using their vitality to keep his wife alive.

<i>Dr. Hackenstein</i> 1988 film

Dr. Hackenstein is a 1988 comedy horror film, written and directed by Richard Clark and distributed by Troma Entertainment.

Norman Thaddeus Vane born Norman Thatteus Vein was a screenwriter, producer, playwright and film director. He served as writer for the 1968 film Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter, and in the subsequent year was writer and associate producer of the movie Lola. He wrote the screenplay for the 1972 film, 1931: Once Upon a Time in New York. Vane went on to direct the 1983 film, Frightmare, and continue contributing to writing films including The Black Room in 1984.

<i>Psychos in Love</i> 1987 American film

Psychos in Love is a 1987 American black comedy horror film directed by Gorman Bechard.

Battle Girl: The Living Dead in Tokyo Bay is a 1991 Japanese horror film directed by Kazuo Komizu. It stars Cutie Suzuki as a survivor of a zombie apocalypse in Tokyo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luca Bercovici</span>

Luca Bercovici is an American filmmaker, writer, producer and actor.

References

  1. ↑ "Frightmare - Movie Reviews and Movie Ratings". TV Guide . Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  2. ↑ Thrower, Stephen (2007). Nightmare USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents. London, England: FAB Press. p. 345.
  3. 1 2 Willis, Donald C. (1984). Horror and Science Fiction Films III. Scarecrow Press. p.  106. ISBN   978-0810817234.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Young, R. G. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film: Ali Baba to Zombies. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 232. ISBN   978-1557832696.
  5. 1 2 3 Jones, Stephen (2000). The Essential Monster Movie Guide: A Century of Creature Features on Film, TV, and Video. Billboard Books. p. 184. ISBN   978-0823079360.
  6. 1 2 Variety's Film Reviews 1983-1984. Vol. 18. R.R. Bowker. 1985. ISBN   978-0835227988.
  7. 1 2 Weldon, Michael J. (1996). The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 222. ISBN   978-0312131494.
  8. ↑ "Frightmare (1981)". British Film Institute (BFI). Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Frightmare – Vinegar Syndrome". Vinegar Syndrome . Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ Lentz III, Harris M. (1989). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits - Supplement: Through 1987. McFarland & Company. p. 440. ISBN   978-0899503646.
  11. ↑ Weisberg, Sam (May 4, 2015). "Writer-Director Norman Thaddeus Vane Dies at 86". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Squires, John (September 18, 2015). "Vinegar Syndrome Unveils Frightmare and Demonoid Blu-ray Art". Dread Central . Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 Gibron, Bill (June 13, 2005). "Frightmare". DVD Talk . Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  14. ↑ Navarro, Meagan (June 13, 2019). "10 Great Slasher Films That You Maybe Haven't Yet Seen". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Frightmare". Amazon.com . Retrieved January 8, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.