Is Popcorn a Hidden Treasure or Dumpster Fire?
Blu-ray Distributed By: Synapse Films / March 7, 2017
Buy a bag… Go home in a box.
What could be scarier than an all-night “Horrorthon”? A group of film students finds out when they stage just such an event at an abandoned movie palace. In addition to the three features—MOSQUITO, THE ATTACK OF THE AMAZING ELECTRIFIED MAN and THE STENCH—they decide to screen a bizarre short called THE POSSESSOR, whose creator, Lanyard Gates, killed his family and set the theater on fire after its first showing. Maggie (Jill Schoelen, THE STEPFATHER) has been having frightening dreams that seem to be connected to THE POSSESSOR, and as the festival proceeds, the nightmare comes true for her and her friends as they are stalked and slain by a mysterious killer. Has Gates survived to continue THE POSSESSOR’s deadly legacy?
Jamie’s Take 
(1 / 5)
Watch this movie, you’ll wish you went home in a box. I am not going to mince words here, I hated Popcorn. I hated it back in 1991 and I still hate it now. I tried. I really tried to give it another chance but dear God this horror-comedy is so annoying and so dumb. I don’t get the cult following that this film has now garnered.
What possibly could have saved Popcorn (I also hate the title) would have been the violence. But alas, fans of the dark crimson will be disappointed as the film has very little blood. In fact the deaths are treated in a humorous and ridiculous way, never building any suspense or horror. Popcorn is a safe horror film. This is a horror film for pussies. The jokes are bad, the deaths are dull and there is no female flesh to even wake up the casual viewer.
Once the maniac is revealed, the wise-cracking murderer spends most of his time making jokes than knocking off the students and attendees. The film also jumps back and forth with a love interest that is ridiculous and so sappy and cliche, it feels like something out of Saved by the Bell. And why the fuck does a reggae band suddenly start playing a concert in between films? If I was at a horror movie marathon and the films got interrupted by some lame band, I’d be pissed.
Presented in a 1:78:1 aspect ratio in 1080p HD, the transfer has been made from a brand-new 2K scan of a 35 mm element. The opening of the film with Maggie having a nightmare regarding Lanyard had such heavy grain that I thought maybe Synapse slipped up on this release. Thankfully I was wrong as eventually the picture quality peaks and the colors look wonderful where grain quickly isn’t as prominent. The 7.1 surround sound is absolutely wonderful and sounds perfect. The 2.0 stern track is presented as well for purists.
Synapse as they normally do, go all out on the special features and don’t disappoint. There is an audio commentary track by Jill Schoelen director Mark Herrier, actor Malcolm Danare and special effects artist Mat Falls. They all seem to be having fun and even comment on the films (many) shortcomings. There is a 57 minute making of BI that I actually enjoyed way more than the film. It discusses the original director who was fired (Alan Ormsby who directed Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things) and the original actress that was let go (Amy O’Neill from Honey I Shrunk the Kids) who Jill Schoelen replaced. Maybe my favorite special feature is the quick interview with a now very old looking Bruce Glover who discusses the making of the film and how he was so upset when he saw the final version as most of his scenes were cut out. Rounding out the special features is the trailer, TV spots, and still gallery.
While the blu ray looks and sounds great with some fantastic special features, Popcorn is just a shitty fucking film. It’s an annoying, unfunny, non scary, confusing mess of a film. I don’t understand the cult following this movie has. It re-enforces my hatred for the 1990’s when horror films relied on too much comedy. Popcorn makes Wes Craven’s Shocker look like Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.
Jimbo’s Take 
(4 / 5)
I am not going to mince words here. Jamie is 100% wrong about Popcorn. Popcorn is one of my favorite films from the early 1990s. And I’m going to have fun giving a counterpoint to Jamie’s temporary insanity.
In fact, I’m such a fan that I ponied up the cash for Synapse Films’ deluxe version that is only available at their website here. And the only area where Jamie and I agree is regarding the technical specs and special features. I’m not going to rehash what Jamie said, but I’ll echo my praise for Synapse Films’ work and add that this disc is well worth the asking price. But regarding the movie…
Popcorn is a love-letter to William Castle films. William Castle was the producer and director of many horror-comedies that included cheezy in-theater gimmicks. Some theaters screening House on Haunted Hill (1959) included skeletons that would fly through the crowd on a string. The Tingler (1959) made use of vibrating theater seats to simulate electric shocks. And 13 Ghosts included a pair of red and blue screening cards that allowed you to see or not see ghosts in the film.
The students in Popcorn make use of similar techniques in the film – a flying mosquito, electrified seats, toxic smelling fumes – and the filmmakers are smart enough to use these gimmicks to stage very elaborate and creative death scenes. Just as much care and attention is put into the make-up effects and designs. The look of the killer and some of the killer’s techniques lend themselves to more outrageous sci-fi elements of the plot, but still fit and mirror the more absurd aspects of Castle productions.
Jamie claims that the film would be improved with gore, but a disagree completely. A graphic death scene would not be an appropriate match for the tone and creativity of the character kills. And that’s what Jamie completely misses here. Tone. He describes the film he wants to see and not the film that this actually is. All of the examples Jamie uses as evidence of failure are actually the film’s strengths.
The tone is even telegraphed in the title: Popcorn. What is popcorn? It’s the #1 snack in all movie theaters and the majority of this film takes place in a movie theater. The name also tells you something about the tone of the film. Yes, Popcorn is a horror movie, but it’s going to be a little more light and fluffy. Just like a William Castle film.
And despite what Jamie claims, the film is not overly comedic. I’ll concede that the film is more light than heavy. However, the “wise-cracking murder” is really no different than “funny” Freddy Krueger. The killer’s character arc lends itself to being a bit more theatrical and melodramatic. But if you find “funny Freddy” bothersome, you may end up in Jamie’s camp.
Jamie says Popcorn is “an annoying, unfunny, non scary, confusing mess of a film.” I think the most honest word he uses here is “annoying”. Popcorn seems to annoy him. But he’s wrong about the film being any of the rest of those adjectives. In fact, Popcorn is just plain fun and shares many traits with films such as Gremlins, Fright Night, An American Werewolf in London, Night of the Creeps, and The Monster Squad.
I know Jamie’s a fan of most of those, so I’m perplexed by his attitude toward this film. But he is also my friend so he’s allowed to be wrong. 🙂
Hidden Treasure/Dumpster Fire?
| Jamie: |  (1.0 / 5) |
| Jimbo: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (2.5 / 5) |
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Special Features
- Brand-New 2K Scan of a 35mm Interpositive Vault Element
- All-New Blu-ray 7.1 Surround Sound Mix Supervised by Synapse Films (Original 2.0 Stereo Mix also Included)
- 5.1 Surround Mix Included on DVD
- Audio Commentary with Director Mark Herrier, Stars Jill Schoelen, Malcolm Danare, and Special Makeup Effects Artist Mat Falls
- MIDNIGHT MADNESS: THE MAKING OF “POPCORN” featuring interviews with Director Mark Herrier, Stars Jill Schoelen, Derek Rydall, Dee Wallace, Malcolm Danare, Ivette Soler, and Elliott Hurst, Special Makeup Effects Artist Mat Falls, Composer Paul Zaza, and Distributor Executive Jonathan Wolf (55 mins, HD)
- Electric Memories – An Interview with Actor Bruce Glover
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Television Trailer and TV Spots
- Still Gallery
- Liner Notes from Michael Gingold
- English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- New Collector’s Edition Cover Design by Justin Osbourn/Slasher Design
