Popcorn

Although it takes a while to get going, POPCORN proves to be a warm and affectionate little slasher movie made along the same lines as Joe Dante's Matinée – i.e. a celebration of the world of the B-movie in its cinematic form. Indeed, the ghost of William Castle seems to be watching over this movies, both in the presence of the cheesy films shown by the fictional cinema and in the bizarre antics of the film students, determined to give their audience an interactive experience!

It's all about the gimmicks and the celebration of the weird, so much so that the actual slasher plot comes second. It's a slight shame, because the story isn't bad, even if it is remarkably familiar: there's an evil killer from the past returning to affect the heroine in the present, and his calling card is that he uses prosthetic masks to disguise himself as anyone and anything. The subsequent kills aren't particularly gory, but they are well staged with an element of Grand Guignol that becomes especially apparent during the over-the-top climax.

POPCORN was made in Jamaica doubling for small-town America, which gives it even more of an offbeat vibe – and the reggae soundtrack is great. The acting is nothing to write home about (THE HOWLING's Dee Wallace-Stone is the only actress of note in a minor part), but when the story and screenplay are so obviously written by genuine fans of old-time horror shows – well, this becomes a film impossible to dislike.

I've seen worse horror films, (every sequel of Friday 13th & Halloween.)

Paid a lot of respect to the pioneers of the 50's horror.

I think Wlliam Castle would have loved it.

I think the fake movie (Mosquito, Stench) titles that were mentioned in

Popcorn could have been made, sounds like some of the movies made in the 50's.

Think about the movies made in the 50's: "The Blob, Deadly Mantis, Earth vs. the Spider, The H-Man".

William Castle or American International would had done them.

I think the movie is under rated.

This actually was kind of a fun horror flick, as the Scream movies were. The best part in my opinion is the movies-within-a-movie the characters show at their sci-fi festival ... cheesy 50s stuff similar to what was done in Matinee.

This is a really well-done, early nineties horror flick that actually made it to the theaters. At the time this was a very original movie. It was back in the day before Scream (hate what that movie did to horror) and all the clones dominated the horror box office.

It all starts when a group of film-students looking to raise money, fix up an old movie theater for a one-night-only horror festival. They plan to show 50s horror flicks using old gimmicks (aroma-rama, 3-D glasses, and shock seats). In a box of old junk they find an ancient film reel containing some really graphic and disgusting footage of an insane, demonic looking hippy chanting "posessor" in a reallly sick voice. One of the students is shocked to discover that the man in the film is the man who has been plaguing her dreams lately. The festival rolls around and all is fine until someone starts offing the students one-by-one. It then turns into a whodunnit and things never get boring

I enjoyed "Popcorn" because it was a highly original take on the slasher genre and it was before there was any other films like it too rip-off. There are a few cliches but the acting is top-notch from a great cast. Ray Walston had an amusing cameo and Tom Villard was never better. It's a shame that he's not around any more. The guy had a lot of potential and was very underrated.

I was lucky enough to find this film for sale in a video store that was going out of business. It may be kind of hard to find (don't know if it's available through Amazon) but if you can find it, it's definitely worth seeing.

This has got to be one of my old favorite horror flicks, I remember renting this when it first came out, and I loved it since then!

The storyline of this movie is so classic and original, but thats what it made it so great!

I was a little shocked to read that Toby (Tom Villard) had passed away, I had no idea, he was one of my favorite movie psychos, and I was wondering if he'd be in any other movies...R.I.P Tom Villard.

If you haven't seen this movie, rent it now! Or since its been released on DVD, pick it up! remember, "Buy a bag, go home in a box." !