19. VIDEO STORE DAY: That is the large one. Watch one thing bodily rented or purchased from an precise video retailer. In the event you dwell in a spot that’s unlucky sufficient to not have one in every of these archival treasures then watch a film with a video retailer scene in it a minimum of. #vivaphysicalmedia
Haunted Honeymoon
If we’re doing Video Retailer Day, we’re doing it proper. Which suggests we’re watching one thing that’s Unstreamable.
I’ve heard tales about Haunted Honeymoon for years, however hadn’t been in a position to get my palms on it till this month. (Thanks Scarecrow!) The story takes place within the Nineteen Thirties. Radio personalities Larry Abbot (performed by Gene Wilder) and Vickie Pearle (Gilda Radner) are stars of a massively in style radio thriller sequence, however when Larry and Vickie get engaged, Larry begins having bouts of “concern” whereas he performs, laughing or crying uncontrollably. The answer? A big, intimidating, vaguely European psychiatrist named Dr. Abbott who believes the one remedy is to “scare him…to demise!”
The doc plans to scare the concern out of him that weekend when the pair get married on the cavernous, positively haunted mansion owned by his Aunt Kate (performed by the spectacular Dom DeLouis, and impressed by his impression of Ethel Barrymore). Dr. Abbott’s manufactured fright evening crosses streams with the household’s werewolf mythology and an precise homicide thriller. Hilarity and horror ensues.
Haunted Honeymoon was Wilder’s fifth whack at directing, and whereas I think the writing doesn’t at all times land the way in which that he meant, it’s a delight to observe. This was Radner’s final movie earlier than she handed away from ovarian most cancers, and the chemistry between Wilder and Radner (who had been already married in actual life) jumps off the display. And in the end, any skinny factors within the writing are stuffed in by the all-in performances of Wilder, Radner, and DeLouis.
So far as Unstreamables go, I wouldn’t blame you if you happen to hadn’t sought this out but. It solely has 18% on Rotten Tomatoes. And partly, I believe that’s as a result of it was somewhat out of time: within the period of immersive, Nightmare on Elm Avenue-style particular results, Wilder insisted on solely utilizing results that had been accessible within the Nineteen Thirties, making a film that felt grounded in in-camera, sensible results. The mirror and lighting results make you’re feeling such as you’re in an elaborate, high-budget haunted home—even when typically you’ll be able to see the fishing line making all of it occur. He additionally selected to not use any vivid, main colours within the set and costuming, nearly evoking the sensation of a black and white movie. In comparison with different motion pictures on the time, it simply didn’t have the flash that folks anticipated. However I believe that within the final decade, if it’d been accessible on streaming providers, this might have come round to cult basic standing.
Oh and for these of you that frequent DoesTheDogDie.com? You’re within the clear.
Come for: Bryan Pringle’s eyebrows; Gilda Radner’s costume
Keep for: The sound impact each time Dom DeLouis slides down the banister.
The Stranger is taking part in Scarecrow Video’s Psychotronic Problem all month lengthy! Each October, Scarecrow places collectively an inventory of cinematic themes and invitations of us to observe alongside and watch a horror, sci-fi, or fantasy flick that meets the factors. This yr, Stranger staffers are becoming a member of the enjoyable and we’re sharing our day by day suggestions right here on Slog! Learn extra about Scarecrow’s 2024 problem—and get the watch checklist—right here. And you’ll observe our day by day suggestions right here! 💀
