Collage of Horror Bits.

Rating: 6/10 (24 July 2010)

There's a lengthy introductory skit -- as in "Twilight Zone: The Movie" -- that's a rip off of "The Exorcist." It's pretty funny, with bit parts for James Woods and Veronica Cartwright. The priest is playing the piano at the party when "Regan" appears in the doorway, declaims "You suck," and pees all over the floor. She pees and pees, while the guests look uncomfortable. Finally, Mom rushes to Regans side and explains, "She's been sick." Then she slams Regans face down into the puddle of urine and begins to beat the back of her head.
That was pretty funny because until that point you didn't know which direction the movie was headed in. But the introductory section ends in showers of vomit involving the two priests and Regan. Except for its residual shock value, it's about as funny as a pie fight.
The rest of the movie, after the credits, is mainly a take off of "The Haunting," a fine film in its original form, directed by Robert Wise, and no more than a special effects extravaganza in the remake. Let's see. There is a lascivious poltergeist who is evidently a male and who chases a young girl across the ceiling after forcing her to have oral sex with an invisible penis. Which teen-age horror movie is that from? The ones with Freddy Kruger? I get them mixed up.
Some of the bits are more revolting than funny -- a butler with a hideously deformed hand who manages to stick the grotesque thing into every dish he serves at dinner. A scene with James Woods on the crapper.
Most of the gags are physical and except for the supposedly outrageous use of curses and swear words it might have been a silent movie. Not that it avoids ALL possible verbal wit. James Woods is the Max Von Sydow character from "The Exorcist" and when he first enters the house, he asks how Regan is. Veronica Cartwright, as the mother, breaks into sobs and says, "Father -- she won't even let me touch her." Woods nods knowingly and replies, "Yes, sometimes you have to give them candy." It's nothing you wouldn't hear on a late-night talk show, but a little more of that would have been nice.
I've concentrated on the first half hour or so because I didn't watch the entire film. The level of comedy or, more important, the KIND of jokes, became predictable and a little stale. Although you could never be sure. One scene is ripped off from "Raging Bull." I'm not sure the younger audience would get that one, but I'm even more certain that there were many allusions that I missed too.
It was outrageous, yes, and some of the jokes were better than others, but I had no trouble shutting it off. It's the kind of thing best left to the kids.