A week and a half ago, when I watched this movie, I
hated it. A few days later, I was thinking it wasn't all that bad. Today as I
write this, I like it and I'm glad I watched this weird little film that somehow
compels you to like it more, the more you distance yourself from watching it.
I'm not entirely sure if that above sentence made sense - but neither did this
movie, so I guess that it all ties in anyway.
Popcorn was a movie that was plagued with trouble and numerous changes from the
very beginning. The director was replaced after three weeks, along with the main
star - so pretty much everything that had been done had to be done over again.
Seems like a lot of effort for a low budget slasher, but I guess they were just
determined to make a movie.
Our young heroine Maggie, is a college (high school?) film major. Maggie is
haunted by strange dreams of fire and daggers and sacrifices - thinking its just
her imagination going into overdrive she takes notes on what she dreams, hoping
to turn it into a feature of her own. Meanwhile at school, Maggie's clichéd
mixture of a film class (slutty hot girl, guy in wheelchair, outspoken black
chick, nice guy nerd) learn from their teacher that their film department is
seriously lacking funds. Nice guy Toby suggests they all put on a scary movie
marathon at the local theatre using films with gimmicks like electric shocks,
foul odours and a giant flying mosquito. With very limited time due to the
theatre being torn down in two weeks, the kids set out to put on the fundraiser,
with the help of some guy who owns a film prop store - we only see him in one
scene, and I'm really not sure what he has to do with the plot.
In amongst all his props they find a duty old film can with a dire warning
sticker saying "DO NOT OPEN". Obviously, they open it, and much to Maggie's
surprise right there before her on the big screen is the exact same scenes from
her dream. Lucky she never got a chance to make that movie - it was shitty back
then and I doubt a film student could have improved it. Anyway, the film was
made by an experimental filmmaker in the 70's by the name of Lanyard Gates and
titled the Possessor. In retaliation for his past efforts being received poorly,
Lanyard never filmed the ending to Possessor, and instead performed it live on
stage - murdering his family and then setting fire to the theatre after trapping
everyone inside. Lanyards body was never recovered.
Maggie tells her mother, Suzanne, about the movie that she was dreaming about
and Suzanne pleads with her to forget the festival. She obviously knows
something we don't. Maggie refuses and Suzanne heads to the theatre alone with a
gun. Some weird shit starts to happen, like letters flying off the marquee and
lights and doors operating on their own. Suzanne gets into some trouble and is
grabbed by a figure we can't see - and assume is Lanyard Gates.
Here's where I should probably tell you about Popcorn's abandoned plot because
the first half of the movie in no way makes sense with the second half, but for
some reason, the brains and the cash behind Popcorn didn't seem to mind at all.
Basically what we have here is the setup for a supernatural horror movie.
Halfway through filming the producers decided that a slasher movie would fare
better with their target audience - whoever that is, and the supernatural plot
was dropped. The story was going to have Maggie battling Lanyard Gates who is
back from the dead with the aid of Suzanne, whose soul is trapped in the old
popcorn machine - hence the films title. You'll notice during the montage where
they are getting things ready for the festival they make a big deal about
uncovering the old popcorn machine. This is why.
Back to the story. The night of the film festival is upon us and Maggie's
attention depraved cheating boyfriend (who I failed to mention earlier) shows up
with another girl, and on top of that. A masked man frightens Maggie at the
booth by mentioning Possessor and calling her Sarah (the name of the girl in her
dream). Maggie freaks out and tries to pitch to everyone that Lanyard is alive
and at the theatre. They all think she's crazy.
Once the films start, the killer starts using the props to kill the film
students putting on the show. I'm not going to ruin it for you with details,
because I actually do want you to watch this movie, but I was a little
disappointed with the way that this film set up very credible potential killers,
and then killed them off the moment you started to suspect them, by about 45
minutes in, I knew who the killer was, and I was a bit disappointed. Not because
it was a stupid idea, but because I really didn't want that person to be the
killer. You'll understand.
A fun, trashy piece to watch with your friends. It's plot resembles a pair of
fishnet stockings, but if you can overlook that and enjoy the zaniness of the
arrangement, you'll have fun. For some reason, I always find myself drawn to
Jill Schoelen movies, and I always remember her being prettier than she is. Not
that she isn't pretty, but she isn't the DAMN! that I keep thinking she is. Oh,
and I love Tom Villard. He's awesome. One Crazy Summer is one of my favourite
movies of all time.
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Year:
1991
