Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (B or 3/4 stars)
L.A.-based TV horror hostess Elvira (the black-clad, buxom Cassandra Peterson) quits her job after her boss tries to sleep with her in 'Elvira: Mistress of the Dark' (directed by James Signorelli). Dejected, Elvira tries to start a Vegas career. But that's put on hold when she discovers that she's been included in the will of her late great-aunt Morgana. Upon arriving in the small, quaint town of Fallwell, Massachusetts, the sexy, Vampiress-looking Elvira creates an uproar amongst the locals (made up on repressed teens who lust for her & conservative elders who are jealous/outraged).
Elvira's dreams of an inheritance fade as she realizes that her great-aunt's will has given her only a huge decrepit mansion, a strange punk-rock poodle, & an odd book of recipes (actually a powerful, long-lost witch book). Before long, Elvira discovers her evil great-uncle Vincent is dead set on getting said recipe book & is willing to lie, cheat, steal, & kill to convince the townsfolk to brand Elvira a witch & burn her at the stake {yes, you read that correctly}. Silly mayhem ensues.
As a child, I LOVED this movie. It's as corny as they come. The acting is piss-poor. The production values are nil. There are bad musical montages. A burlesque ending. Just a bad movie. But I loved it, and must throw it - at least - a B/B- for what it's worth (for me). I mean, how can you hate a film that includes: witchcraft cookbooks, magic ambrosia, & a modern Salem Witch Trial {haha}!? I would categorize this film as a sex/scare farce. It really isn't 'sexy', but it pokes fun at Elvira's womanhood. And it isn't 'scary', but pokes fun of the whole New England town/haunted mansion/witch/potions/dark magic milieu.
Cassandra Peterson is tons of fun as Elvira. I can't say she acted very well; Peterson & Elvira are one in the same. All she has to do is continue playing the loveably ditzy, self-referential Elvira as she always has. But without her, this film would be a big fat Zero. She IS the movie. Some of the supporting players are fun. Edie McClurg is great as the town prude Chastity Pariah. She just. can't. stand. Elvira. So yeah, overall, I recommend this film, mayyyybe to other 8 yr. olds - like I was - who got a kick out the goofiness ... or stared at Cassandra Peterson's plunging cleavage.
Elvira's dreams of an inheritance fade as she realizes that her great-aunt's will has given her only a huge decrepit mansion, a strange punk-rock poodle, & an odd book of recipes (actually a powerful, long-lost witch book). Before long, Elvira discovers her evil great-uncle Vincent is dead set on getting said recipe book & is willing to lie, cheat, steal, & kill to convince the townsfolk to brand Elvira a witch & burn her at the stake {yes, you read that correctly}. Silly mayhem ensues.
As a child, I LOVED this movie. It's as corny as they come. The acting is piss-poor. The production values are nil. There are bad musical montages. A burlesque ending. Just a bad movie. But I loved it, and must throw it - at least - a B/B- for what it's worth (for me). I mean, how can you hate a film that includes: witchcraft cookbooks, magic ambrosia, & a modern Salem Witch Trial {haha}!? I would categorize this film as a sex/scare farce. It really isn't 'sexy', but it pokes fun at Elvira's womanhood. And it isn't 'scary', but pokes fun of the whole New England town/haunted mansion/witch/potions/dark magic milieu.
Cassandra Peterson is tons of fun as Elvira. I can't say she acted very well; Peterson & Elvira are one in the same. All she has to do is continue playing the loveably ditzy, self-referential Elvira as she always has. But without her, this film would be a big fat Zero. She IS the movie. Some of the supporting players are fun. Edie McClurg is great as the town prude Chastity Pariah. She just. can't. stand. Elvira. So yeah, overall, I recommend this film, mayyyybe to other 8 yr. olds - like I was - who got a kick out the goofiness ... or stared at Cassandra Peterson's plunging cleavage.