This Canadian horror film tried to bring back the ‘s approach at the
peak of the ‘s post-modernism horror trend, but surprisingly did it
quite well.
High School student Kate has recently discovered that she was adopted
after her mother, an up and coming opera singer, was murdered by her
leading man. Since then she has been having nightmares.
Urged by her best friend Monica as a way of overcoming her fears, Kate
decides to help out the drama department with a project that sees them
cleaning out the old theatre where her mother was killed. However, the
theatre appears to be haunted as all manner of things begin to go bump in
the night. It soon turns out that the kids are not alone.
The location is what ultimately makes this film the success that it is,
with endless creepy corridors and dark spaces creating all kinds of
possibilities.
The cast are very good for an independent film with Christopher Plummer,
Margot Kidder, Tatyana Ali, James Duval and ‘Sweet Valley High’s’ Ryan
Bittle.
The killer clown is right up there with the best of them (but is no way
near as scary as Pennywise from’IT’) providing plenty gory deaths and fake
scares to entertain viewers.
If you overlook the expected goofyness such as an ‘s style cleaning
montage you will find this quite enjoyable.
OVERALL SUMMARY
A very good attempt at re-creating ‘s horror, this film is a nicely shot
well acted creepy little movie.