Film Review: LEPRECHAUN: BACK 2 THA HOOD (2003)

I’m getting around to reviewing this film now only because this happens to be the only one in the never-ending franchise that I had never seen (until now).  There is not much that can be said about Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha Hood (2003) but I’ll try anyways.  I never really cared for any of the films in the original franchise.  I think the original was very fun and successful only because of actor Warwick Davis as the Leprechaun character.  This can be said of all the films in the franchise including this film and if you’ve seen them all (as I now have) it’s because Davis seems to have so much fun playing the character despite how horrible the films actually are. 

In this film Emily (Tangi Miller) has been told by a psychic that she will come into money which is what she really needs living in the ghetto and her rundown neighborhood filled with crime and gangs.  When she comes across a pot of gold she believes that her fortunes have changed for the better not realizing that the gold belongs to the mythical Leprechaun (Davis) who will stop at nothing to get all his gold back, now Emily and her friends must film a way to rid themselves of the evil Leprechaun while also finding a way to keep the gold as they don’t want to return to the way of life before the good fortune of the gold.

This film is not entirely bad as it does give a better back story to Emily and her conflicted life living in a poor world consumed by compromise upon compromise.  She wants a way out of her old life and sees an easy out.  Miller is also one of the better actors in the entire Leprechaun franchise and Davis is at home in his character.  This being said, the film still has many flaws and will only really appeal to fans of the franchise who have managed to stick through to the bitter end (this being the final film in the Davis franchise).

Film Review: THE FINAL GIRLS (2015)

The Final Girls (2015) is a loving tribute to ‘80s slasher films while also being an ‘80s slasher film itself, only with a modern twist.  Max Cartwright (Taissa Farmiga) is trying to get over the death of her actress mother Amanda Cartwright (Malin Akerman), who was famous for being a scream queen from ‘80s films.  When the local movie theater decides to do a special screening of her mother’s most infamous film Camp Bloodbath she is reluctant to go as she still hasn’t come to terms with her mother’s tragic death. 

While at the screening of the film a fire breaks out in the theater forcing Max and her friends into the silver screen into the world of Camp Bloodbath forcing them all to live the movie.   Max must come to terms with seeing her mother “alive” again (but as the character in the film of Nancy).  Knowing that everyone dies in ‘80s slasher films other than the “final girl” Max and her friends must film a way home while also trying to film a way to save Nancy (her mother) who died in the original film.  

Despite being very much a comedy that pokes fun at the conventions of ‘80s slasher films there is plenty of gore and mayhem to be had in this film that both respects the ‘80s slasher film while also making fun of its conventions.  All the performances are very strong and the film does a great job as presenting the clichés of slasher films without falling into the trap of being a mockery of them.  Fans of ‘80s slasher films will not be disappointed by this love letter to the genre.

The screenplay is written by M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller and directed by Todd Straus-Schulson, whose previous feature was A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011). 

Film Review: STAGE FRIGHT (2014)

Stage Fright (2014) is a film I probably shouldn’t like since its part slasher film and part musical but all the elements come together in way that it crafts an entertaining and fun film.  Kylie Swanson (Minnie Driver) was killed during a theatrical performance of an original play and now years later at a theater camp the play that she was killed in is being resurrected and her daughter Camilla (Allie MacDonald) wants to continue in the role that killed her mother. 

The problem is that people keep coming up dead and soon everyone starts to believe that the camp is cursed.  Camilla must summon her own strength in order to come to terms with the legacy of her mother and to survive before she becomes the killer’s next victim.

The film has several entertaining musical numbers and some extremely high production values making this one of the few exceptional horror films to successfully mix horror, slasher, and musical genres.  Written and directed by Jerome Sable (with music and lyrics by Sable and Eli Batalion) this is a film made by film makers who love horror just as much as musicals and has managed to craft a film that utilizes both in a satisfactory way.

The film also excels in crafting a very good mystery by making sure there are enough red herrings to keep the audience guessing until the end.  If there is any gripe it’s that there isn’t enough Minnie Driver as it was interesting seeing her in a horror film.  Whether you’re a fan of musicals or not this is a film any horror fan may enjoy.