The most wonderful thing about the 80's is there seems to be no end to tiny treasures you can find. There's something to be said about the spirit of the 80's, with film in particular. Whether it's action, comedy, or horror the charm always hits me hard. I recently took a chance on an unknown title called Neon Maniacs brought to us on blu-ray by indie label CODE RED and boy did I find a gem. Blind buying based solely on the title, the cover image, and the year it was made, I took a risk. Fortune favours the bold though and this is evidence of that. I like this film so much because it's not afraid to be stupid. It's not trying too hard; Neon Maniacs knows exactly what it is and isn't ashamed.
The film features a cadre of demons varying in quality. Some demons are bad ass and memorable like the samurai and hook-weilding cyclopian crocodile. But there are others you can't help but chuckle at, like an albino caveman (or maybe a hairless yeti????). But even the caveman in all his silliness gets a scene to shine when his sillouette creepily stalks the dark halls of a high school. And that's exactly why even the worst parts of this movie are enjoyable. It does its absolute best with what it has. There's no use in pretending this film does a good job at cultivating any meaningful sense of dread. However, the scenes intended as such are still very fun to watch.
I think it's worth mentioning there are several moments in the film that look like goofs left in. One particular moment is when the two main characters, Steven (Clyde Hayes) and Natalie (Leilani Sarelle), kiss in the subway. Initially, Natalie leans in, but Steven backs away before realizing it's ok to kiss her. To me, it seems like that reaction from Steven was unplanned but it worked so well. It added an innocence and goofiness to the character that felt really genuine. I'm not saying this is a moment of high calibre performance, but it's a small thing that goes a long way. There are several moments like that in this film and I feel like everyone involved was having a good time.
We find the smartest and most capable character in a young girl who isn't afraid to take on the bad guys and has more useful ideas than the rest of the cast combined. The young protagonist, Paula (Donna Locke), doesn't take shit from anyone, including stupid cops. Oink Oink. She's the perfect combination of spunk and smarts. In a time when we still hear cries for better female characters in film, we could learn a thing or two from Neon Maniacs. According to IMDB, this was Locke's only role which is a shame. I wish we could have seen more of her efforts.
The most brilliant thing about this movie might be the ending. I was surprised by its suddenness. It's tauntingly ominous. It might actually by the one thing in this film that's close to something legitimately creepy. It's not shocking or assaulting, but there is skill in the way this film concludes. A numerical rating would be unhelpful for a movie like this. What I will say though is I enjoyed the hell out of it. If you have a soft spot for that 80's charm and are looking for a portal to take you back, this is a fun choice. It's a seriously unserious treat.
The most wonderful thing about the 80's is there seems to be no end to tiny treasures you can find. There's something to be said about the spirit of the 80's, with film in particular. Whether it's action, comedy, or horror the charm always hits me hard. I recently took a chance on an unknown title called Neon Maniacs brought to us on blu-ray by indie label CODE RED and boy did I find a gem. Blind buying based solely on the title, the cover image, and the year it was made, I took a risk. Fortune favours the bold though and this is evidence of that. I like this film so much because it's not afraid to be stupid. It's not trying too hard; Neon Maniacs knows exactly what it is and isn't ashamed.
The film features a cadre of demons varying in quality. Some demons are bad ass and memorable like the samurai and hook-weilding cyclopian crocodile. But there are others you can't help but chuckle at, like an albino caveman (or maybe a hairless yeti????). But even the caveman in all his silliness gets a scene to shine when his sillouette creepily stalks the dark halls of a high school. And that's exactly why even the worst parts of this movie are enjoyable. It does its absolute best with what it has. There's no use in pretending this film does a good job at cultivating any meaningful sense of dread. However, the scenes intended as such are still very fun to watch.
I think it's worth mentioning there are several moments in the film that look like goofs left in. One particular moment is when the two main characters, Steven (Clyde Hayes) and Natalie (Leilani Sarelle), kiss in the subway. Initially, Natalie leans in, but Steven backs away before realizing it's ok to kiss her. To me, it seems like that reaction from Steven was unplanned but it worked so well. It added an innocence and goofiness to the character that felt really genuine. I'm not saying this is a moment of high calibre performance, but it's a small thing that goes a long way. There are several moments like that in this film and I feel like everyone involved was having a good time.
We find the smartest and most capable character in a young girl who isn't afraid to take on the bad guys and has more useful ideas than the rest of the cast combined. The young protagonist, Paula (Donna Locke), doesn't take shit from anyone, including stupid cops. Oink Oink. She's the perfect combination of spunk and smarts. In a time when we still hear cries for better female characters in film, we could learn a thing or two from Neon Maniacs. According to IMDB, this was Locke's only role which is a shame. I wish we could have seen more of her efforts.
The most brilliant thing about this movie might be the ending. I was surprised by its suddenness. It's tauntingly ominous. It might actually by the one thing in this film that's close to something legitimately creepy. It's not shocking or assaulting, but there is skill in the way this film concludes. A numerical rating would be unhelpful for a movie like this. What I will say though is I enjoyed the hell out of it. If you have a soft spot for that 80's charm and are looking for a portal to take you back, this is a fun choice. It's a seriously unserious treat.
