80's American Horror Part Eighty-Three

THE DARK CRYSTAL

(1982)

Dir - Jim Henson/Frank Oz

Overall: GOOD

 

The first of two full-blown fantasy films to be directed by Jim Henson as well as being collaborator Frank Oz' debut behind the lens in any capacity, The Dark Crystal is one of several such enduring works from the 1980s.  Above all though, it is a profound achievement in animatronics and puppetry as it features no human characters and showcases a robust, fantastical world full of unique creatures and inventive set design.  The story by Henson and David Odell utilities Jane Robert's "Seth Material" and adheres to, (as the title would suggest), the darker aspects of Grimm's Fairy Tales, making this a children's movie in most capacities except with some mildly horrific elements and an imposing threat looming over the narrative.  Of course everything turns out wonderful in the end with the prophesy being fulfilled and balance being maintained, but the road to get there is punctuated by numerous obstacles by the nasty Skeksis trying to maintain control of the planet Thra, while the feeble and benevolent Gelfing's Jen, Kira, and her annoying fur-ball Fizzgig conquer the odds.  Straightforward stuff as it should be, which all allows for the wonderful visuals to take center stage.  Henson and Oz' mastery of their practical creature design medium hits its peak here and the pacing never lets up, making something that is relentlessly enjoyable.

THE MUTILATOR

(1984)

Dir - Buddy Cooper/John S. Douglass

Overall: WOOF

 

As forgettable of a slasher movie as was ever made, writer/producer/co-director Buddy Cooper's The Mutilator, (Fall Break), plays by all of the sub-genre's derivative rules to detrimental effect.  The characters are all in their early twenties, most of them are horny, and they are all obnoxious, holding up in an isolated beach house where it is easy for a deranged maniac to cut the power and pick them off when the couples break up to have sex with each other.  One such ridiculous moment involves the killer drowning and removing a naked woman from a swimming pool while her particularly chiseled doofus bro nonchalantly swims in said pool at the same time and of course sees absolutely nothing that transpires.  The soundtrack is another problem where most of the time it is just a primitive, ominous keyboard score which may as well be the same one found in every other slasher film, but occasionally, (and far more perplexing), a terrible, faux-Billy Joel styled ditty is used which creates as inappropriate of a tone as you could imagine.  The only "plus" side is that it is all too boring to be aggressively insulting, so hopefully you will be uninterested enough as to not even pay attention to how predictable and moronic it truly is.

 

NIGHT LIFE

(1989)

Dir - David Acomba

Overall: MEH

 

Comedy is often harder than horror and in this respect, Night Life, (Grave Misdemeanors), proves that sometimes a movie can fail at two genres simultaneously.  The last theatrically released film to be directed by David Acomba, (who had and continued to have a steady career behind the lens in television), the script was by Keith Critchlow who has only this on his resume as far as screenplays go.  He gives it a solid try by combining high school bullies, a likeable nerd protagonist, and zombie tropes played for laughs together, but there is not a single funny moment in the entire eighty-nine minute running time.  Even more silly/not-silly is how the zombies come to be in the first place, merely springing to life during an electrical storm because whatever.  Acomba does a better job than the lazy material deserves though, staging some fetching atmosphere and gnarly gore in the final act.  The practical effects are on the low end of the spectrum from a budgetary standpoint, but they get the job done and provide a moment where we get to see Gomez Addams, (John Astin himself), get his head exploded by a mechanic's pump.  Also, Scott Grimes is ideally cast as the good-natured mortuary assistant and Cheryl Pollak makes her second appearance in a horror comedy after 1987's My Best Friend is a Vampire.