For those who missed out on Vinegar Syndrome’s 2021 Limited Edition Blu-ray of Frightmare, Troma is releasing its own Special Edition disc. Originally released in the U.S. in 1983, writer/director Norman Thaddeus Vane’s Frightmare (originally titled The Horror Star) failed to make much of an impression on critics or audiences at the time. One reason for its lukewarm reception may be the film’s uncertain identity. It never quite decides whether it wants to be a straight gothic horror film or a tongue-in-cheek horror spoof, resulting in an uneven tone that can be distracting. While this has always been a sticking point for me, it doesn’t entirely negate the film’s mild, offbeat appeal.
The story follows a group of drama students whose class is visited by their favorite horror movie star, Conrad Ragzoff (Ferdy Mayne), who promptly collapses from excitement. Unbeknownst to the students, Conrad has just committed murder on the set of a commercial he was filming earlier that day. He dies shortly after the visit, though not before claiming the life of another director.
The seven students—Meg, Saint, Bobo, Eve, Donna, Oscar, and Stu—then hatch the ill-advised plan to sneak into Conrad’s tomb and steal his corpse for the night. Even as a lifelong horror fan, the appeal of corpse theft for entertainment (or commerce) has always escaped me. Once the body is brought home, Conrad’s coffin mysteriously bursts into flames, and he rises from the dead, systematically picking off the students one by one. Some of the kills are effective and inventive—most notably a spontaneous combustion—while others veer into unintentionally comedic territory. A death involving a slow-moving, floating coffin is particularly memorable for all the wrong reasons.
The narrative logic of Frightmare often strains credibility, but that’s part of its peculiar charm. The film’s self-awareness and focus on horror-loving characters is appealing, especially considering it predates similar genre favorites like Fright Night’s Evil Ed and Friday the 13th Part IV’s Tommy Jarvis. Adding to its historical significance, Frightmare also marks the horror film debut of Jeffrey Combs, who would go on to horror immortality just a few years later with Re-Animator.
Troma’s Blu-ray release features the same restored 2K presentation sourced from the original 35mm negative that Vinegar Syndrome previously issued. With that edition long out of print, fans now have a welcome opportunity to add the film to their collections. While Frightmare is far from a personal favorite, its darkly campy tone and oddball sensibility give it a certain wicked charm. Ferdy Mayne is especially enjoyable, delivering a spirited performance and proving to be perfectly cast as the film’s villain. For fans of the film—or cult horror curiosities in general—this release is well worth considering.
Bonus Materials:
- Original DVD Intro Featuring Lloyd Kaufman and Debbie Rechon
- Archival audio interview with Director Norman Thaddeus Vane
- Historical Commentary with David Del Valle and David DeCoteau
- The Hysteria Continues (audio commentary from ‘The Hysteria Continues’ Podcast)
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Artwork Gallery
- Man With A Camera: Video Interview With DP Joel King
- A Gory Lesson From The Set Of Meat For Satan’s Ice Box
- INNARDS! Music Video
- Radiation March
By: Marc Ferman
