THE FLY II (1989) comes nowhere near reaching the heights of its brilliant parent film but folks who dismiss it as an empty also-ran are missing out on a strangely effective monster flick. The previous film’s tortured lovers Seth Brundle and Ronnie Quaife are now deceased but their tormented offspring Martin (Eric Stolz) continues their angst-filled legacy. There’s much scientific mumbo jumbo to weed through here but amongst the chaff are scenes of true heartbreak (don’t get me started on that poor deformed dog) and a wildly impressive final hulking fly-beast proudly presented by special effects artist turned directer, Chris Walas. All ends unhappily ever after for sure and the film’s depressing dour vibe may be mostly responsible for its negative reception but I can’t help but respect its unflinching gravitation toward the unpleasant ugliness of true horror.
THEY (2002) has approximately one diehard fan and I fear that may be yours truly. I can’t help it, it’s got an overall creepy waking-nightmare tone and it’s all about solemn adults digging up and dealing with the traumas of childhood (especially fears of the dark and of things that go bump in the night). Mia Farrow-esque Laura Reagan stars as psychology student Julia Lund who is endlessly trying her boyfriend Paul (Buffy’s Marc Lucas) Loomis’ patience due to her habit of spying grotesque gargoyle like creatures out of the corner of her eye and sometimes hallucinating an alternative dimension filled with such creatures. All involved believe she’s crazy but anyone who has seen the ABC 1973 made for television film DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK knows she’s not. Directed by Robert Harmon who did the fantastic THE HITCHER (’86) and featuring solid performances (Ethan Emery as Julia’s childhood friend Sam is particularly good), the wrongly maligned THEY has much to offer for fans of the more psychological side of horror.
LEVIATHAN (’89) may have fared better if it was a little less stingy when it came to showing its central aquatic monster (designed by brilliant Stan Winston). No worries though, as intimidating as THE THING (’82)-leaning creature may be, the film’s most disturbing elements involve body horror and fear of contamination and disease. Part of the late eighties ALIEN (’79) underwater craze (see also THE ABYSS, DEEP STAR SIX, LORDS OF THE DEEP et. al.) LEVIATHAN separates itself from the fish school by not only having a likable cast (Peter Weller, Amanda Pays, Daniel Stern, Ernie Hudson, Richard Crenna, Hector Elizondo and Lisa Eilbacher) but also in my opinion, one of the greatest (and most punchable) villains in the frosty eyed Meg Foster as corporate ice-queen Ms. Martin. Written by David Webb Peoples (BLADE RUNNER) and Jeb Stuart (DIE HARD), directed by George P. Cosmatos (COBRA, TOMBSTONE), with a score by the phenomenal Jerry Goldsmith (THE OMEN, POLTERGEIST and the aforementioned ALIEN among sooo many others), LEVIATHAN has a pedigree that can’t be sneezed at. I’ll always wish there was a bit more of a solid, crystalizing view of the mutant baddie but this undervalued fish tale is a memorable thrill ride anyway.
SPOOKIES (’86) is more of a cinematic catalog of awesome eighties special make-up effects than an actual movie but you won’t hear me complaining. This crazy quilt of a movie has its reasons for being borderline incomprehensible (it was actually two different films that were joined together with the aid of some newly added tinker-toy connecting scenes) but who needs logic when you are dealing with an avalanche of the undead, farting mud monsters, witches, glowing-eyed grim reapers and even a giant web spewing spider lady? It’s even got one of those absolutely irresistible eighties synth scores! Sure, the characters are all slightly annoying but that only makes their inevitable demises that much more enjoyable. This is one true monster mash that has to be seen to be believed.
TerrorVision (’86) is a goofy, extremely eighties sci-fi/horror comedy about a destructive alien creature who looks like a mound of garbage that travels by way of television signals. Some say the only good cult films are those that are unintentional but this frothy, fun-time flick is as cult as they come and was surely built to be so. Surely the casting of Gerrit Graham (“Beef” from De Palma’s PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE) and cult Queen Mary Waranov (CHELSEA GIRLS, CHOPPING MALL, EATING RAOUL and countless more) as swinging parents sealed this film’s cult status fate from the get-go. Filling out the cast is the always excellent Diane Franklin (AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION) portraying colorful new wave daughter Suzy, MONSTER SQUAD & FRIGHT NIGHT II’s Jon Gries as her punker boyfriend “O.D”, Chad Allen as the Rambo-obsessed youngest child and Bert Remsen as loony survivalist gramps. Directed by Ted Nicolaou of the SUBSPECIES series, produced, and co-written by the prolific Charles Band and featuring a score by Richard Band (RE-ANIMATOR, TROLL, FROM BEYOND etc.), TerrorVision is a non-stop barrage of enviable interior design, music video inspired sharp angles and fluorescent hues swirling around a gooey, bulging-eyed glob of a creature. What’s not to love?
Unkle Lancifer – I love, love, love Spookies and TerrorVision (which has a great theme song by The Fibonaccis). Charles Band's films really drop off in quality after the 80s, but his 80s productions are great stuff.
I live in New York state, and I attended a screening of Spookies at the Alamo Drafthouse in Yonkers. Several members of the cast and crew attended (all from the first half of the production, before the movie was taken over), and talked about their experiences. It was a blast. I live not too far from the mansion where Spookies was filmed (it's a short car ride). Some scenes from Don't Go in the House (the dance club scene and the clothing shop scene) were shot not far from where I live, as well.
Unk,
I like that this is turning into a full fledged franchise. This installment should be called "The Final Chapter", Part V should be "A New Beginning".
SDC,
You're from NY? Me too; Don't Go in the House? more like NYC in the House.
Ghastly1 – yep, I'm in Westchester. Joe Spinell's depressing final movie, The Undertaker, which was never really finished, was shot around here, as well.
I hope The Final Chapter includes the tiny creatures from The Gate (or the demon versus demon face-off in Gate 2: Trespassers, which I really like). The brain from The Brain would be cool, too.