POPCORN Deftly Melds Monster Movie Tropes With ‘80s Slasher Conventions
For one reason or another, Popcorn (which turns 30 this year) has long been under-appreciated. That could have to do with the flick having been out of print for a spell (thankfully it is available now). Or perhaps it dates back to the film’s lackluster box office performance. Whatever the reason, its praises have gone largely unsung, I consider Popcorn a delightful blend of ‘50s monster movie with the spirit of an ‘80s slasher (that was actually made in the ‘90s). If you’ve somehow managed to miss out on it to this point, allow me to encourage you to give it a look.
Synopsis:
Popcorn sees Maggie and her classmates programming a triple feature event for their school’s film department. The students set up a bitchin’ lineup filled with schlocky B-grade monster movie features, complete with Smell-O-Vision. But when a psychotic madman with designs on killing Maggie and her friends begins stalking the fest, all bets are off!
Popcorn seems to have flown under the radar and been overlooked or discounted by a lot of genre film fans. But I would argue that treatment is completely unwarranted. The film melds elements of the heyday of the slasher with themes from the gimmick-ridden monster movies of the William Castle flicks of the 1950s. And the result is a cheesy good time.
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Popcorn boasts a great cast with a handful of familiar faces. It’s great to see the inimitable Dee Wallace return to her horror roots and with a snappy ‘no nonsense’ haircut, no less. Wallace plays Maggie’s mother in the film. But she is more than just the obligatory parental figure. She gets her own arc and makes the most of her screen time. Wallace has long been able to effortlessly depict maternal love onscreen and this is no exception. She comes across as authentic and sympathetic and her concern for Maggie feels genuine.
Jill Schoelen (The Stepfather) is quite likable as Maggie. She is believable as a young woman tormented by a past that she can’t quite remember. She is a fiercely independent female character, which is nice to see in a film that turns thirty this year. The horror genre, while not perfect, has often been ahead of the curve in its portrayal of female characters and I think Maggie is a good example of that. She doesn’t let her boyfriend pressure her into sex before she’s ready and she puts her passion for film ahead of their relationship.
The late Tom Villard (Parasite 1982) is a delight in his turn as Toby. His enthusiasm for his role in Popcorn makes his scenes fun to watch and the way that he chews scenery towards the end is quite endearing. It’s clear that he’s having fun leaning into the campy nature of the flick. It’s a tragedy that he passed away at such a young age with the makings of a promising career ahead of him.
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Some of the supporting players are a little wooden at times. But so was the acting in a lot of the B-movies that inspired Popcorn. So, it seems counterintuitive to nitpick that small detail.
Aside from a strong cast and (mostly) solid performances, the film is also noteworthy for delivering a trio of really fun, fictitious vintage films that are shown at the special screening. One could make the argument that they serve as filler to pad out the runtime. But I wouldn’t. I think they are lovingly crafted and invoke recollections of flicks presented by schlock royalty like William Castle.
For me, watching the films within the film is almost as much fun as taking in the narrative portion of the feature, itself. The wardrobe, hairstyles, and set décor all makes the titles screened at the fest feel like they could be lost relics from the ‘50s.
Popcorn feels like equal parts ‘50s monster movie and ‘80s slasher. It melds the two (seemingly incompatible) eras from years past and somehow comes out as cohesive and entertaining.
Popcorn really nails the slasher boom formula but intertwines it with conventions from the B-grade movies of yesteryear and the result is pretty terrific. If you haven’t seen Popcorn, it is well worth a look. Grab your copy now before it falls out of print…again.
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