Popcorn

Plot synopsis:
Maggie (Jill Schoelen) has nightmares about a man, and tells so to Suzanne, (Dee Wallace-Stone). She's preparing a script about a girl named Sarah, so she doesn't have time for Mark (Derek Rydall). Mr Davis (Tony Roberts) will find his students' film with three Z-series films with surprises. The students agree: Tina (Freddie Marie Simpson), wheelchair-bound Bud (Malcolm Danare), Leon (Elliot Hurst), Joanie (Ivette Soler), Cheryl (Kelly Jo Minter) and Toby (Tom Villard). The films will be broadcast at the Dreamland, an old theatre destroyed by the fire. Dr. Mnesyne (Ray Walston) will provide all the propsDuring the preparations, they find Possession, a film about Lanyard Gates (Mat Falls), a crazy mad who recorded his attempt to sacrifice Sarah. Maggie will discover he was his father, and Suzanne saved herself and her from the fire. Suzanne goes to the theatre alone at night because of some threatening calls she's been lately suffering.Mark goes with Joy (Karen Witter) that night to the cinema, but seeks Maggie. Somebody has killed Mr Davis, with the mosquito model. Disguised as Mr Davis, that person kills Tina. Then, disguised as Tina, that person kills Bud. Disguised as Leon, that person kills Leon himself.That person confronts Maggie. Suzanne is alive, but can't move and has a gun in her hand. Maggie discovers Toby is the killer. He was disfigured at the fire, and wants to recreate Gates' sacrifice. Mark talks to Toby's landlord (Will Knickerbocker), and runs back to the theatre to save Maggie.Cheryl and Joanie throw Joy and a bearded guy (Scott Thompson) out of the theatre, because they have quarrelled with Mark. They lock the door, so Mark has to climb the façade to enter-.Toby represents the film Possession while broadcasting it. The audience laughs when Maggie says "it ain't a film". Mark saves her by killing Toby with the sharp-tongued mosquito model.Toby and Maggie kiss each other while giving their evidence to the police.

Tags: horror, cult, revenge, murder

Review:
This may look very much like a redundant and unpleasant horror comedy about the umpteenth serial killer wasting a group of film students but, if you give it a chance, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
This has got to be one of my old favorite horror flicks, I remember renting this when it first came out, and I loved it since then!The storyline of this movie is so classic and original, but thats what it made it so great!
It all starts when a group of film-students looking to raise money, fix up an old movie theater for a one-night-only horror festival.
Indeed, the ghost of William Castle seems to be watching over this movies, both in the presence of the cheesy films shown by the fictional cinema and in the bizarre antics of the film students, determined to give their audience an interactive experience!It's all about the gimmicks and the celebration of the weird, so much so that the actual slasher plot comes second.
The acting is nothing to write home about (THE HOWLING's Dee Wallace-Stone is the only actress of note in a minor part), but when the story and screenplay are so obviously written by genuine fans of old-time horror shows – well, this becomes a film impossible to dislike..
Fun little horror flick that pays homage to 50's and 60's classics, all while it's an 80's stalker and slasher film within..
Set in California at a college some film students decide to run an night horror marathon at an old run down cinema house.
For reasons I've forgotten, Sarah and her class set up a movie marathon at a local theatre, showing old gimmicky horror films.
Her film teacher and fellow peers have organised a all-night film festival at an old theatre, which will be featuring old b-horror movies with the use of interactive gimmicks in the hope of raising enough money to support the film department, after the university cut their funds.
When the fun starts, Maggie is sure that the supposedly dead star/director Lanyard Gates of that film is wandering the theatre.Bad dreams might appear early on, but Mark Herrier / Alan Ormsby's contributions are a far more pleasant experience in this fashionably inspired parody of gimmicky (think of William Castle) 50's b-grade horror films interwoven into a silly slasher formula of a film-within-a-film.
However most of the oddball fun is derived from the stylishly correct mocking of the "horrorthon" b-films; "Mosquito", "Attack of the Amazing Electrified Man" and "The Stench" and their cinema gimmicks (like the 3-D flying mosquito in "Project-O-Vision", "Shock-O-Scope." in the audience seats and releasing bad odours in "Aroma-rama" for the proper experience), which is being screened to the boisterous audience with their smart remarks and in-spirit costumes.
But it's the support roles where the most interest arises with the likes of Tom Villard's superb performance as an obsessively nutty film student, Tony Roberts' amusing turn as the film teacher, Dee Wallace Stone plays it sincerely as Maggie's mother and Ray Walston's avidly effortless cameo as the gimmick man.This winsome little low-budget item is a rather solid cheesy comedy/horror/parody effort even with so many uneven distractions inbound.
When a group of film students need to raise some cash, they organise a horror movie festival at a run-down theatre, offering fright-fans a selection of old monster moviescomplete with their original promotional gimmicks!
As a packed house enjoys a triple bill of hokey trash (fictional B-movies 'Mosquito', 'The Amazing Electrified Man' and 'The Stench'), a disfigured killer proceeds to use the movies' gimmicks to bump off the students, whilst wearing a variety of latex masks to deceive his victims.Popcorn is exactly like its title suggests: a light-hearted, teen-centric, and not-to-be-taken-too-seriously popcorn movie.
Although this means it is fairly light on the gore (and features absolutely no nudity), with its pretty nifty horror-film-themed script (that any fan of the genre should get a kick out of), some fine make-up effects, and a genuine sense of fun, this early 90s offering proves to be great escapism for its duration (plus, I'm a sucker for a gorgeous brunette in peril, so the film automatically scores points with me for starring the lovely Jill Schoelen as its helpless female in distress).The screenplay, by talented genre scribe Alan Ormsby definitely shows that the man knows his stuff when it comes to schlock horror, with the three films-within-the-film taking plenty of good natured swipes at the clichés and conventions of the genre.
The cast all give spirited performances, with Dee Wallace-Stone racking up another solid horror film credit, Tom Villard giving a particularly memorable performance as goofy film fan Toby, and the always impressive Ray Walston appearing in a short but welcome cameo.Occasionally the film gets a little too daft for its own good (the running gag where the hero continually gets hurt soon becomes tiresome), and the ending seems to rattle on forever, but there's easily enough fun stuff in this one to make it worth checking out.7.5 out of 10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb..
I especially found "Popcorn" creepy because I was once a movie theater projectionist and we also showed an all-night film festival of horror movies a couple of years ago on Halloween.
sure the story is kinda cheesy and so are a few of the actors but horror movies for the most part are meant for enjoyment not Oscars so as long as you don't try to compare popcorn to saving private ryan this movie is great.
California student Schoelen has dreams that are unknowingly shown on a horror movie, and soon a psycho wearing human flesh starts offing her fellow group of film students putting on a film festival at an old movie house.
The story stops making sense halfway through (that could be because of some huge editing before the film was released), the killings are relatively bloodless (how this got an R rating is beyond me) and the unmasking of the killer at the end was boring and stupid.It's really too bad--this movie had potential.
Popcorn (1991)** (out of 4) Some film students need to raise some money for their program so they decide to show three horror movies at an old movie palace.
They plan to re-create a William Castle like atmosphere and all is going as planned until a maniac shows up and starts killing off the students.I remember watching POPCORN the day that it was released and thinking it was an incredibly bad movie.
Another part of the film wants to be a slasher picture and in the end the two just don't mix.What I enjoyed about the film is the fact that it pays a loving tribute to the type of movies that were being released in the 1950s.
If you're familiar with the likes of William Castle then you know the gimmicks that they'd do to promote their movies and that's basically re-created here and this aspect of the film is fun.The problem is that that part of the movie eats up probably seventy percent of the running time.
I understand that the producers were trying to do two things at once but sadly it just didn't work and we're left with an incredibly uneven picture that falls apart.The cast is fun for the most part and we do get to see familiar faces like Dee Wallace Stone, Ray Walston and Tony Roberts.
The plot of this film has a madmen loose in a theater thats showing an all night marathon of gimmick B-movies from the 1950's and 60's.
I've seen worse horror films, (every sequel of Friday 13th & Halloween.)Paid a lot of respect to the pioneers of the 50's horror.I think Wlliam Castle would have loved it.I think the fake movie (Mosquito, Stench) titles that were mentioned in Popcorn could have been made, sounds like some of the movies made in the 50's.Think about the movies made in the 50's: "The Blob, Deadly Mantis, Earth vs.
oh the irony!the film doesn't take itself seriously at all and doesn't try to rise above the fake b-movies that it displays like one with a giant killer mosquito.
You'd have the be a hell of lot wittier and smarter than this to win me over, and very, very few slasher films have done so, since the 1980s (when the genre was already in decline, thanks to a glut of low budget sequels).I probably should mention that some people consider it a cult classic, so maybe you'll like it better than I did, but I can't really recommend it.
This is a pretty fun little B-movie, the sort of late-afternoon diversion that benefits tremendously from a snappy pace, an obvious reverence for disreputable horror cinema, and the presence of several genre veterans (including the always-welcome Dee Wallace).
A deformed Leatherface meets Phantom of the Opera type killer (Tom Villard) is on the loose in the theater during the showings, killing off the teens one by one until Maggie will find out who is the mysterious cretin.An entertaining and fun horror comedy from writer Alan Ornsby is a nice tribute to the William Castle gimmick movies of the 50s and 60s long before there was "Matinee".
Disfigured killer is on the loose at a local cinema during a triple-feature of old (mock) William Castle-type horror films.
If only they knew .....The first two thirds is a good horror/ comedy, a fun mixture of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Phantom of the Opera, and William Castle's gimmick films of the 1950s and '60s, with great costumes and elaborate sets, but the final 30 minutes is a bit too freaky, as the film changes tone dramatically.
The three mock horror films shown during this film, Mosquito (In 3D Project-O-Vision) The Attack of the Amazing Electrified Man (in Shock-O-Scope) and The Stench (but NOT in Aromarama) might have made a funny spin-off movie anthology..
I have watched this film a few times on video and it's quite good.I think that had it been released a few years later it would have been rated up there with the scream1,2 and what you did last summer type film.It's a bunch of knowing teens in peril film and I loved it,it's fun and well worth seeing..
The most fun for me were the "mini-movies" that were being shown in the theatre throughout the film, all made to look like actual horror movies that used gimmicks.One of the movies employs the gimmick of electrodes in selected seats to apply a shock to the viewer -- this is an homage to William Castle's "The Tingler" of 1959.Another of the movies used scents deployed into the theatre air conditioning system -- this is reminiscent of Walter Reade's "aromarama" and Mike Todd Jr's "Smell-o-vision", used in "Scent of Mystery", 1960.Finally, a 3D movie that includes a full-size model of a bug flying out over the audience at the climax -- this was an actual "process" (if you can call it that) called "Emergo".For more of this type of thing, I recommend the movie "Matinee", which is a thinly-disguised parody of William Castle's shenanigans..
In the early 1990's, before such releases as "Darkman", and "The Silence of the Lambs", when horror films were at an all-time low and we were bombarded with cheesy made for video horror comedies, this odd, but entertaining thriller was released in theaters.The plot was simple, an all night horror movie marathon is silently stalked by a psychopath who may or may not be a killer from the past who has come to finish what he started, and for that time, highly original.
Not only do we get to see loads of people die in somewhat funny ways, but we also get to see recreations of many classic 50's horror films, which are definitely the high points of the film.The film is wacky, funny, and gory, very reminiscent of the opening in "Scream 2" which makes me wonder if Kevin Williamson ever had an original thought in that brain of his(also see "Happy Birthday to Me") The only weak point of the film is the ending, which was somewhat of a disappointment.The killer's identity is a shock because it's lacking somewhere.
To help raise money, a film class decides to throw a horror movie marathon featuring old films.
This not to bad at all, all got to do enjoy this movie sit down with Popcorn and watch popcorn.A Group of teens plan an all-night horror film festival from movies that were made in 50's that was made in 3D and all the seats seem to have electrical shockers on them.Maggie seem to having these nightmare about man who lost in life in fire in the same place few years ago, after he was being casted into a movie made by Maggie.Now Maggie think that man is back from the dead and then she find out her friends are dying one by one by this man.This is really good (very) cheesy horror movie, you need to be a really cheesy mood to watch this movie, or you will really hate it!
While the audience is watching cheesy sci-fi flicks, a hideously burned killer is stalking the film students in the dark corners of Dreamland.Popcorn came out in the early nineties where the Slasher boom was well and truly dead and well this one didn't exactly break new ground or break box office records, it was a huge flop when it came out and was panned by critics.
Popcorn boasts a strong cast of interesting and likable characters Tom Villard is great as the nerd and brings innocence and adds more and more layers to his character Toby as the movie progresses, Kelly Jo Minter (Nightmare On Elm Steet 5 - The Dream Child) is funny as the tough talking, hard punching Cheryl, Jill Scholen (The Stepfather, Cutting Class) does a nice job as Sarah the lead girl haunted by nightmares and a burned killer and I also like to point out she does a much better acting job in this movie unlike she did in Cutting Class she's seemed to be taking this role much more seriously, Dee Wallace Stone (Howling) does well in her cameo as does Tony Roberts and Ray Walston.Popcorn is by far means isn't a perfect slasher but it's a fun treat especially for Jill Scholen fans..
Now it looks like dad is loose in the theater killing her friends and patrons.Creative horror film has a pretty interesting premise and is very, very spooky at times and features a very appealing heroine and is never boring.
Standard slasher plot: College professor Ray Waltson has his film students renovate an old movie theater to show 50's B horror films for a single night.First off, WTF does film making have to with construction and renovation?
A group of film students organise an all-night horror marathon at an old movie theatre to raise funds.
On the other hand it's a homage/parody to the entire monster/b-movie genre.Here we have a group of film students organizing a horror-marathon at the local movie-theatre.
Even the title had something to do with a plot element that was edited from the final film, but the producers and distributor liked it so much, it was retained.The film begins with Maggie Butler (Schoelen), an aspiring movie writer and college student, who has recurring nightmares that she is a young girl named Sarah.
Suzanne is concerned about her daughter's nightmares but has her own issues to deal with when she's lured to the Dreamland Theater by a voice from her past.In an effort to come up with a unifying project and to generate funds for the fledgling film department Maggie's professor Davis (Tony Roberts) takes a suggestion made by her fellow student Toby (Tom Villard).
Who is behind it all, who will survive and what it all has to do with Maggie and her dreams will be revealed by the end of the film.There are several things that make this movie work.
Using the tried and true theme made big in the 80s with a group of young people in jeopardy and being knocked off one by one keeps the theme of the horror films from them intact while combining it with those old movies at the same time.
This 1991 horror film stars Jill Schoelen, Tom Villard, Dee Wallace, Derek Rydell and Kelly Jo Minter.
A new film class is finding itself in the need of funds, so the professor(Tony Roberts)agrees to a all-night horror movie marathon.
Not expected is the return of an old has-been forgotten film maker(Matt Falls), who wants to go on a killing spree...using the faces of his victims.A very lively cast featuring: Dee Wallace-Stone, Ray Walston, Kelly Jo Minter, Tom Villard, Jill Schoelen, Freddie Marie Simpson and Derek Rydall..
Well, I finally got to watch it, and I am glad for that.When a group of film students decide to have an all night horror movie marathon at a local theater, luck falls their way.
I found this movie to be a big change from a lot of the movies that were coming out in the late 80s/early 90s, as the killer is a little more original with the kills, and in general, the film is just fun to watch.
But, a killer will secretly plot to murder several of the students, and teacher Mr. Davis(Tony Roberts)as the movies are being projected while Maggie and boyfriend Mark(Derek Rydall)work together to find her possible father, a supposedly dead cult director, Lanyard Gates(Matt Falls)who murdered her real mother, not the woman who has been raising her since childhood, Suzanne(Dee Wallace Stone).
A film Gates was making, which reflects almost exactly the nightmares Maggie has been experiencing, is found within the theater by fellow student Toby(Tom Villard).
"Popcorn" is a pretty decent slasher at times.**SPOILERS**Struggling with weird dreams, Maggie, (Jill Schoelen) feels that they will make a good film.
Not a great horror movie but pretty good.