‘Screamboat’ Review: David Howard Thornton Shines In Surprisingly Fun Horror Parody
Since the release of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey in 2023, there’s been an influx of horror parodies featuring iconic characters from children’s stories as bloodthirsty monsters. It just so happens that most of those characters have also been featured in Disney films. From Winnie the Pooh and Piglet to Peter Pan and Popeye, horror directors have taken shots at our childhoods to craft nasty slashers for a quick buck. One of the most recent installments in this ever-expanding list of films is Steven LaMorte’s Screamboat, featuring Steamboat Willie, the cartoon inspiration for Mickey Mouse. While the film is utterly ridiculous, it also knows exactly what it is and leans into its gonzo sensibilities with pride. Plus, with a decent budget (comparatively speaking), the kills are wilder and better-looking than most films of its ilk.
Screamboat takes place in the gnarliest location of them all: the late-night Staten Island ferry. Full of drunk party girls and exhausted families just trying to get home, the benches are packed with trash and the floors stained with piss. This is where our heroes find themselves trapped on a particularly foggy night. As the journey commences, bodies quickly begin to pile up. The culprit? Steamboat Willy.
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Importantly, Steamboat Willy here is not a man-sized mutant mouse. No, they render him as a tiny rodent, portrayed by the one and only David Howard Thornton (known for his portrayal of Art the Clown in the Terrifier franchise) in a cartoonishly nasty mouse costume that looks like something out of my nightmares. He’s a nasty little sucker who isn’t afraid to slice ankles and impale influencers. This dedication to the bit is what sells Screamboat. Sure, there’s a nonsensical explanation for why he’s such a bloodthirsty beast, but really, it’s all about the bit, and LaMorte isn’t afraid to embrace that wholeheartedly.
The dwindling number of survivors, despite being several adult-sized humans, must try and defeat the murderous mouse as he gleefully decapitates, electrocutes, and gnaws on ferry goers just trying to get home. Every kill is more outrageous than the last, and compared to LaMorte’s previous film The Mean One (another horror parody, this time inspired by The Grinch), it seems that he had a much bigger budget to play with when crafting his set pieces.
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Don’t get me wrong, the film also is packed with childish jokes about poop and farts, cheesy one-liners, stilted dialogue, and one too many forced Disney quotes that function as too-obvious winks and nods to Screamboat’s source material. But it’s about what you’d expect from a movie called Screamboat about a killer mouse who drives a boat. Mileage will vary, but if you’re looking for some good, dumb fun, look no further than this.
Screamboat is perfect stoner escapism, a film that never takes itself too seriously and takes pleasure in poking fun at our corporate overlords. It’s exactly what you expect, but even more fun, especially if you’re willing to buy into its plot. Yes, the story is ridiculous, but it’s a horror parody of Steamboat Willie. What do you really expect? The higher production value and gleeful evil of Thornton’s mouse keep this particular parody funny, nasty, and a great film for your next movie night. I’m still hoping this childhood-ruining horror trend dies down soon, but with a mid-credit sting that teases another Screamboat, it looks like this particular storm doesn’t show any signs of stopping.
Screamboat is out now in theaters.
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Screamboat
Summary
Screamboat is perfect stoner escapism, a film that never takes itself too seriously and takes pleasure in poking fun at our corporate overlords.
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