A group of 20-somethings steals the body of a dead horror star. The horror star doesn’t like that and gets his revenge in Norman Thaddeus Vane’s 1981 midnight movie Frightmare, rereleased on Blu-Ray from Troma Entertainment.
The FIlm
Frightmare, also known as The Horror Star, is found in the subgenre of Magic Murder Mansions. For whatever reason, a collection of college kids end up in a sprawling manse and find themselves picked off in a variety of interesting ways by something supernatural. We’re looking at Night of the Demons (maybe the best of them), Cthulhu Mansion, Evil Laugh, Spookies, and the ilk (I particularly like The Lamp, technically at a museum, but I’ll take it). Norman Thaddeus Vane’s 1981 (or 1983 in other sources, such as IMDb) Frightmare runs like one of those, with an overlay of Vincent Price’s 70s British output like Theatre of Blood, Dr. Phibes, and Madhouse. Not directly, but it has that vibe. It’s a self-aware, funhouse of a flick.
The resemblance to Price’s work is due to the plot. Ferdy Mayne is Conrad Radzoff, a horror star at the end of his days, coming off like a mixture of Christopher Lee (who was offered the part) and Vincent Price (wth the …off, hits the common cliche of Karloffesque names). He dies and is buried in an elaborate tomb (with wonderful pre-recorded videos and deadly traps!). It’s not long before some fans steal his body and take it to a spooky Gothic mansion, where many of his films were filmed, now hosting the horror society’s living quarters. His wife contacts a seer, who casts a spell to bring the body back to her by bringing it to life. Reawakened and upset, Radzoff uses a series of supernatural powers he has… for reasons, I guess? to avenge himself upon his captors. It goes as expected, one by one, the body snatchers meet their ends. Highly entertaining.
It’s dumb as hell, but a ton of fun. Much of it makes little sense, but these films never do. Things happen because it might be fun to do it. Sure, the characters are bland and rather unlikable (one of the commentaries says this too, so not just me!), complete cyphers, but the film around them is quite interesting. Of the kids, the best of them, a surprise to no one, is a young Jeffrey Combs in his 3rd film role, first in genre. Even if I didn’t know who he was, he’d stand out with a wonderfully oddball performance. But consummate character actor Ferdy Mayne is having a joy in the villain role; while he was in Hammer flicks and other horror (and non-horror) classics, he’s best known for his part in Roman Polanski’s vampire comedy The Fearless Vampire Killers… or Pardon Me But Your Teeth are in My Neck.
I need to point out Joel King’s camera work. The cinematographer of Just Before Dawn, and camera operator of so many 70s classics like Carrie (of which he admittedly re-uses a set-up from) gets the most out of the locations of the mansion, the cemetery, and crypt, and others, setting a surprisingly detailed and great looking flick. The colors and shadows build up a solid atmosphere and take the film further than expected.
Like Luther the Geek, also re-released by Troma this week under their own label after a decade with a Vinegar Syndrome release, Frightmare is a good “Fifth-pick-flick,” something you’d randomly pick up at a mom-and-pop video store and hope for the best. Sometimes you fall asleep at the sleepover when it’s on. Sometimes it grabs you, and you make it through the tired haze. I had a nice laugh as one of the commentators on the 3rd commentary track said the same thing! This is a good one, with fun kills, interesting set-ups, a wonderful villain performance, and some fantastic cinematography.
The Package
Like all of recent Troma releases, it plays a Russia vs. Toxic Avenger short immediately before the menus. The single-disc Blu-ray is housed on standard thin blue case. The single-sided sleeve has the “knife in skull” cover art (Frightmare had many posters over the years) with a “Tromatic Special Edition” label.
The Presentation
This is a fine-looking disc. As noted, the cinematography is very good, and it helps the transfer look awesome. Audio and subtitles are in English.
The Features
Like Luther the Geek, Troma has repackaged the 2016 Vinegar Syndrome disc, porting over all the special features and adding a few Troma-based extras.
Commentaries
1- An interview with writer-director Norman Thaddeus Vane laid over the film. What a storied career. The interview goes from his very start at Columbia university, writing a few plays that got notice almost immediatly, moving into films, working as an editor of Penthouse in the UK (which some really skeevy talk of the women and the culture of the time), returning to the US and making more movies, including this one, which gets a few minutes about an hour in if that’s your focus.
2- David Del Valle and David DeCoteau. Del Valle worked on the film (and a slew of other horror flicks), and DeCoteau has a long list of credits all over the board. They have a good talk about the making of the film from the inside of the film and the industry. They get some laughs and are having a good time. Nice to get some stories right from the set.
3 – The Hysterial Continues podcast. Three of the four podcasters bring an external view, looking at who was who, how this falls into various canons, and the history of the film. Despite the name of the podcast, it isn’t a riffing thing, but an insightful and honest appraisal of the film.
Man with the Camera
Interview with cinematographer Joel King. Fascinating chat with the long-time cinematographer and camera operator, and his history of working big and small. Loved seeing his massive collection of memorabilia. Awesome memories of 70s Hollywood (partying and getting clean with Dennis Hopper!). And even some details of this movie. (21m)
Introduction (2005)
Lloyd Kaufman and Debbie Rochan give a “generic” introduction to the flick.
Artwork Gallery
Two minutes of the various posters, names, and lobby cards for both. Mostly German.
Trailer (titled Horror Star) 2m.
The remainder of the features are Troma-based, instead of the film.
A Gory Lesson from The Set of Meat for Satan’s Ice Box
Troma head Uncle Lloyd Kaufman talks about working on the set of a cheapie. Fun to hear him disparage the whole thing in order to plug his (excellent) book Make Your Own Damned Movie.
The following features are also found on Luther the Geek and #Shakespeare’s Shitstorm and are discussed further on #SS’s review: Toxic and Ukraine, Innards/Tromatized Music video, Radiation March, TA in 4k, Coming Distractions (trailers)
Final Thoughts
Frightmare is a highly entertaining little flick, led by a fun villain performance from a great character actor. It looks fantastic to boot! With 3 commentaries and the interview, it provides plenty to dig into. As for Luther the Geek, that edition (now out of print) is fine if you have it, unless you want to add some Troma features to the collection.