For this, the fourth year I've done this, I've decided to give the opening day position to a man who I reached out to on a whim and who I now call a friend, Ozploitation Legend
Brian Trenchard-Smith! Brian has chosen a film from his own filmography,
Night of the Demons 2! Brian is
representing Paralyzed Veterans of America which helps disabled veterans to live independent lives. I strongly encourage you to pick up his meaty, entertaining and vastly informative memoir,
Adventures in The B Movie Trade. It's available on Amazon--free to read on Kindle Unlimited--and is a vital text for anyone interested in working in the movie business.
Now this is the first time I watched this direct-to-video entry...but I have vivid memories of seeing its predecessor, Kevin S. Tenney's 1988...epic?..
Night of the Demons, on VHS. That film could have been a boilerplate 'kids-trapped-in-a-haunted-house-by-let's-call-them-demons-even-if-they're-really-zombies' if it wasn't for a couple of really striking moments, including an amazing shot where each of the main characters are reflected in a different piece of a broken mirror and a make-up gag featuring Linnea Quigley and a tube of lipstick that still ranks as one of my favorite 'what the
Fuck?' moments in all my years of watching film.
Well, the lipstick is back, as is Amelia Kinkade, who once again plays Angela Franklin, the goth girl who threw open the Gates of Hell at Hull House in the original. It's been six years since that incident, and Angela's sister Melissa (Merle Kennedy) is attending St. Rita's Catholic School. She's...well, kinda bullied...into attending a secret Halloween party run by Shirley (minor scream queen Zoe Tapping, who looks like Daphne Zuniga mashed together with Reese Witherspoon and given Meg Foster's eyes). A number of factors--including resident occult freak Perry (Robert Jayne) conducting a ritual in the school's sacristy--results in Angela escaping Hull House hidden in the aforementioned lipstick and being brought back to the school. It's up to Sister 'Ghoulie' Gloria (Jennifer Rhodes) and some of Melissa's friends to stop Angela from going all Abraham on poor Melissa armed with a ruler, holy-water filled balloons and super-soakers and faith.
Now I'm not going to lie--this is a low budget after-the-fact sequel to a film that was pretty low budget to begin with. I don't think Brian would disagree on this. The script, by writer of the original Joe Agustyn, isn't going to set the world on fire. But there are moments of bliss to be had here thanks to, I suspect, Brian knowing what he was doing and trying to have some fun with this job...
...starting with Jennifer Rhodes' portrayal as Sister Gloria. I have to admit I have a softness for Kick-Ass Clergymembers and, from the moment we see Rhodes practicing her fencing (Brian is an accomplished fencer) with her ruler standing in for her epee, it's obvious where this character is going. While Rhodes never goes as nuts as the kung-fu priest in
Dead Alive, she obviously is relishing the role and engages in some fun set pieces; my favorite involves her using her rosary as a nunchaku. I just wish she was in more of the film and we didn't spend so much time with some of the other characters. I also have to say I liked Kinkade's s performance when she wasn't slathered in make-up, and I was constantly amused by the presence of future Brady Girl and wife of Ben Stiller Christina Taylor as one of Shirley's sidekicks.
Augustyn's script is competent if a little too convoluted for its own good--while he manages to gives us a credible reason for bringing Angela to the school, he almost immediately nullifies it by bringing the action back to Hull House. The motivation for Angela causing this present round of havoc is presented well into the third act, and I get the nagging sense that it was added as an afterthought. And maybe Augustyn should have established the holy water twist earlier. But still, Trenchard-Smith tries his best to elevate the script with a sense of style and humor.
This is not a great film, but it is a watchable one with a couple of things to really like about it. It doesn't overstay its welcome, even if the second act drags at moments, and contains a couple of striking set pieces that stand out; while it's no Linnea Quigley playing with her lipstick, I enjoyed the bit involving Shirley....ummm, leading with her bosom. This is one of these films where you will already know if you're going to have fun with it by what I've disclosed in this entry.
Tomorrow will see the day sponsored by my friend, film critic/cinema snob/sometimes voice actor Witney Seibold! Witney has chosen another sequel, one directed by a director I heap some praise during last year's Horrorfest, Frank Hennelotter. It's time to visit Belial with Basket Case 2! Witney will be representing The Trevor Project, which provides counseling and help to trans and nonbianary youth.
There are presently sixteen open slots for this year's festival, and if you'd like to be included, there are four ways to get your share of the spotlight:
1) You can become a Domicile of Dread Patreon at any level. Patreons always get a free slot, as well as advance access to podcasts and other goodies!
2) You can buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi. Suggested donation is $3
3) You can make a donation to Queens Community House Covid-19 Relief and Recovery Campaign. Suggested donation is $10. Please forward your receipt to me as proof.
4) You can choose to make a donation to the charity chosen by a sponsor on his/her/their day. Like with the third possibility, please forward me proof of donation.
It is not necessary to choose a rat-based horror film. However, if you do, I will forward you a special Ratapalooza banner you can display on your website.
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