Horror and comedy rarely mix well. Usually, in order for one to work, the film needs to be a full-blown comedy first with elements of horror to make it effective. Usually, in a full film that would be considered more horror than comedy yet has comedic elements, it takes away from the overall scares of the film, leaving the audience laughing at the extensive blood and guts, and a villain that should be scary but becomes more of a joke. I rarely like horror films with comedic elements. I think the last horror comedy that really worked for me was Jack Brook’s: Monster Slayer, which delivered on its story more than anything else in the film did. Leave it to Anchor Bay Entertainment to bring us this year’s horror spoof film, Stan Helsing, a horror spoof film that gives all the Scary Movie films a run for their money.
Stan Helsing has all the typical elements that make a bad horror film but make a great comedy: Pointless nudity and drug use, cliché characters and plenty of parodies to go around. They story is about Stan (Steve Howey), a video store clerk who is waiting for his friend Teddy (Kenan Thompson) to pick him up to go to a Halloween party. When Teddy arrives with Stan’s ex-girlfriend Nadine (Diora Baird) and a stripper, Mia (Desi Lydic), the foursome plans to have a great time at the party. However, Stan’s manager has asked him to drop off some videos at his boss’ mother’s house on their way. They drive to the out-of-the-way destination only to find themselves lost. When they get to the gated community, they find that the place has horrible secrets and that movie monsters have taken over the place. Now, Stan and his friends must fight such villains as Pinhead, Freddy, Michael Meyers, Chucky, Leatherface, and Jason in order to escape with their lives.
As is the case with most parody films, you really need to be a fan of the original films to get the parodies’ humor fully. With the exception of the first Scary Movie film, I never have bothered to even watch films like Epic Movie, Disaster Movie, etc. I always have found the ideas to be pointless and stupid. However, as a fan of horror films, I figured why not give it a watch? While it is nothing great in terms of its filmmaking style and production value, the story, as out of control as it is, actually is not half bad. To be honest, you will only get most of the jokes if you have seen all of the horror films that the movie spoofs.
Unlike most films of this kind, the acting here is fairly good. The roles are stereotypical, but the actors are funny, and with comedy legend Leslie Nielsen in the mix, you know that you’ll at least get a laugh or two. The production values are similar to those of Scary Movie, whose executive producer, Bo Zenga, directed this film, with overly-saturated colors, corny set pieces and make-up design, and ridiculous visuals.
The Blu-ray disc has a few special features, including audio commentary with Writer/Producer/Director Bo Zenga and actors Kenan Thompson and Desi Lydic. There is also a featurette titled “Killer Parody: The Making of Stan Helsing” as well as extended, alternate and deleted scenes, outtakes, stills and storyboard gallery and the film’s trailer
While I normally hate films like this, Stan Helsing is fairly funny. I enjoyed the way they made fun of some of the movie monsters, for instance, Pinhead with lawn darts and heroin filled needles in his head, Freddy Kruger with a Swiss army glove and Michael Meyers with a yarmulke on his head. These parodies made the film a lot of fun, and while it is really just a stupid movie, I would be lying if I said I did not have a good time watching it. It is by no means a great movie, but you will get a few good laughs out of it if you are willing to take another film parody for what it is.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
