Mirror Mirror

Teenager Megan Gordon (Rainbow Harvest) styles herself after Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice, which makes her a laughing stock at her new school, which is populated exclusively by preppy types. Nikki Chandler (Kristin Dattilo), candidate for school president, befriends Megan, but doesn't realise the danger she is putting herself in by doing so, for Megan is being controlled by the demonic force that resides behind the glass of the antique mirror in her bedroom.

While not particularly original, the idea of mirrors as portals for evil having existed for centuries, Mirror Mirror proves to be an entertaining piece of early '90s horror thanks to strong performances from a decent cast, solid direction by first-time director Marina Sargenti, and several memorable set-pieces, including a blistering shower scene.

As Megan is slowly seduced by the malevolent being on the other side of her mirror, she sets about evening the score with her tormentors, which means giving school bully Charleen (drop-dead-gorgeous Charlie Spradling) a nose bleed in the cafeteria, causing science teacher Mr. Anderson (Stephen Tobolowsky) to have a seizure, and scaring nosy house clearance lady Emelin (Yvonne De Carlo) away from her prized possession.

Eventually, Megan's power spirals out of control, resulting in death: when Charleen's boyfriend Jeff (Tom Bresnahan) spurns her affection, Megan feeds him to the demon; Emelin is impaled by a shard of glass; Megan's mother Susan (played by horror icon Karen Black) has her arm mangled by the waste disposal; and Nikki's boyfriend Ron (Ricky Paull Goldin) is killed by an evil doppelganger of his girlfriend. Best of all is Charleen's death while taking the aforementioned shower: a totally naked Spradling (so hot that she even out-scorched Sherilyn Fenn in Meridian) is scalded all over by jets of steam.

All of this is so much fun that it's easy to forgive the slightly overlong runtime, the rather confusing ending, and William Sanderson's limp ponytail.

An 80s goth girl (Rainbow Harvest) and her goofy single mom (Karen Black) move to a new suburban town. She gets picked on by her new classmates and generally despises life in typical 80s goth girl fashion. She discovers a mysterious mirror in her room left by the previous owners and finds that it gives her the power to get what she wants...ie, the death of those who mess with her! The tagline for this movie is something about being a cross between "Carrie" and "Heathers". Well, it is nowhere near either of those classics. It is, however, a surprisingly charming little B-movie! The actors' style is late 80s/early 90s in the worst possible way but it is totally endearing. There is some witty dialogue and some really sick and twisted scenes (including a fair amount of gore). Karen Black is totally over the top. It seems like Rainbow Harvest (?!) was only cast because she looks like Winona Rider circa "Beetlejuice"...a more charismatic lead would have helped this movie. It also would have been more satisfying if the lead character had some attitude beyond her clothing and were a bit more hardcore (a la Ginger Snaps) instead of being a wimpering loser. But for a B-movie this was pretty damn entertaining. Recommended to fans of 80s B-horror as well as estro-infused horror flicks. My Rating: 6.5/10

Where credit is due, 'Mirror, Mirror' is a hot and steamy little Gothic horror oddity that won't blow you away from its originality, but by confident performances (headed by the likable Karen Black and Yvonne De Carlo) and director Marina Sargenti's presentably moody handling which simply builds towards the ghastly shocks. The script is standard, but its focus on an outcast's passage through school-life remains stimulating… no matter how many times we've come across it before. This can be attributed to the sincere acting of Rainbow Harvest (as the shy Goth girl who has a striking resemblance to a 'Beetlejuice' star Wino Ryder), Kristin Dattilo and the buxom Charlie Spradling as the stuck-up bully. Then revenge is served, as those you get in Harvest's way… bites the dust in many unexpected ways.

Megan and her mother arrive at their new home and a mirror (which did belong to the original residents) in Megan's bedroom catches her attention. Starting school isn't easy, and she's made fun of instantly. Her anger is soon picked up by the mysterious mirror, which suddenly gives her the ability to cause some 'accidents'. Soon she begins to pick on these things and virtually it takes control of Megan, which would go on to hurt those who she cares for.

The low-key back-story could have been a little clearer about the supernatural link (but the conclusion holds a witty touch), and the story could have been tighten since it dragged on too long. The low-budget look didn't stop the atmospheric camera-work (like POV from the mirror) and lighting being effective. Sargenti stylishly uses slow motion efficiently, and crafts some lasting scenes (some bloody and cringe-like scenes) and the eerie flight of the shady score works trumps.

Very passable horror feature.

"Mirror, Mirror" is at its best in the first half, with its simple but effective depiction of school life. In the second half, a few of the death scenes leave something to be desired, but others (bathtub drowning) are good. Karen Black and Yvonne De Carlo may be the draws in the cast, but it's their younger co-stars that do almost all the hard work: Rainbow Harvest makes a believable transformation from a "Winona Ryder in Bettlejuice" - wannabe to a wicked villainess, Kristin Dattilo is also convincing as one of the sweetest persons you'll ever meet, and Charlie Spradling plays the spoiled b*tch to perfection (and is downright GORGEOUS to boot). The movie does seem to go on a bit too long, but stick with it because the ending is the cleverest part. (**1/2)

Mirror Mirror: 7 out of 10: Goth Kid moves from LA to small-town America and her new bedroom comes with a haunted mirror. Grab hold of your dirty pillows and watch out for pigs blood cause we got ourselves a real-life Carrie up in these parts.

The Good: This is really not that bad a horror movie. A good background story involving the titular mirror. A Lydia from Beetlejuice cosplayer played by Rainbow Harvest. Good girl best friend (Kristin Datillo), Bad girl vixen (Charlie Spradling) and whacky wig wearing mother (Karen Black) round out the much better than it needed to be cast.

In addition, the horror scenes are quite well done. There are some fun surprises in store when everyday appliances get possed by "The Mirror"

The Bad: While originality is often overrated (some of the worst films I have ever seen are swimming in originality) one would be mistaken not to point out that certain elements of this film may harken back to other films. In Mirror Mirror's defense, it itself was copied by more than a few films.

In conclusion: It is a nice quiet well made horror film. It is no Death Spa however. Chances are you will have forgotten you have seen it by the time it rolls back on your streaming service.