Here we have a dark comedy from 1990 titled Frankenhooker. This combines horror, comedy, and if you ask some people, soft core porn. While I didn't notice the porn part; there's less sex and nudity here than any of the Porky's movies I've seen and I don't recall any of those being called soft core porn. Poh-ta-to Po-tah-to. Mmmm waffle fries. Where was I? Frankenhooker is directed by Frank Henenlotter who has directed the Basket Case horror comedy trilogy. So he knows how to do horror comedy right. The film centers on Jeffrey Franken, a medical student who is about to get married to the woman of his dreams, Elizabeth who is played by Penthouse Pet of the month as well as year, Patty Mullen.
The couples happiness is soon cut short (you'll know how funny that is in a second) when Elizabeth is killed by an out of control lawn mower. See, told you. Devastated, Jeffrey drops out of medical school and devises a plan to help him bring back his wife to be. He will use the body parts he collects from hookers to Humpty Dumpty her back together again. In order to do that he only wants to use the best parts money can buy. Well, the parts aren't for sale but the girls are. Also starring as Jeffrey's mother is Louise Lasser; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman herself. He plans on drugging the girls with his new street drug; think "Super Crack" but it turns out the drug causes anyone who smokes it to explode. I hate when that happens! Soon it's raining body parts, literally. While the film is hampered by some low cost special effects and some bad acting, I mean they're porn stars folks.
What makes the movie is the story and the direction. This one had me, ahem, in stitches! It's a funny film and it's certainly one I would call better than the sum of it's parts. The film doesn't have any right to be this good considering it's parodying a horror classic but it's different enough that it doesn't feel like it's recycled, rehashed, or ripped off. Somehow Henenlotter is able to piece together a classic 90's horror comedy. Piece together!! Damn, I am on fire. And while I don't know if this is this years final post for the Countdown to Halloween but if it is it's a great way to end it! I'm gonna happily give this one four plates of severed breasts out of five. I'm not kidding! "Hey Jersey boy, wanna date?"
Hmmmm . . . . this one's been buried in my mad stacks for years now. Looks like I need to did it out, Jersey boy.
ReplyDeletePatty Mullen can actually act! Well, I have this theory that everyone can do light comedy, because we all have a bit of "ham" inside us - but still, she's pretty good! Also worth noting is the appearance of a famous "Horror Host" as a crazed weatherman, and the really effective special effects work in the final "battle".
ReplyDelete(The Countdown to Halloween sent me here)
You're right on all accounts! The fact that Zacherle "The Cool Ghoul" plays the weatherman (which I didn't know about ahead of time) is a real nice touch. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you had a great Halloween and enjoyed all the festivities of The Countdown to Halloween had to offer.
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