The Club

I was pleased to find this title very recently added to Netflix streaming. I've been trying to remember the name of it for years & stumbled on it again. It's a movie that doesn't take itself very seriously & I think it has held up rather well. I consider it a must-see for people who like horror with a touch of comedy at various points in the plot. Don't get me wrong, it's not a laugh a minute, but there are touches of humor throughout the story. The subject matter for the interwoven character stories isn't light either. All in all, I find watching this movie to be a satisfactory way to spend a weekend afternoon.

In my opinion, the character of John is the highlight of the film. I understand the actor is now both a writer, producer, & director. I may have to check out his work as a director!

Time stops at midnight at the Senior Prom for five students, one murderous counselor, and John. They must find the courage to face themselves or, when time starts again, they may find that they are joining John's Club.

This is apparently not a well-known movie. IMDb does not even have a poster image for it (as of October 2015). Which is just as well, I suppose, because the image that Netflix uses is not that great and almost scared me off giving it a chance.

We have some nice performances, including one from Zack Ward before he really hit it big. That alone makes it worth watching. But then add in Kim Coates and a few others... this is a very nostalgic sort of film, like a mid-1990s film trying to capture the sort of feeling that the 1980s had with movies like "Waxwork".

Damned be nostalgia. Once again, it has gotten me into a spot of defending a movie I (still) like, while it's not exactly a superb film. I saw THE CLUB back in 1994 on a horror film festival. I remember enjoying it quite a bit. Years went by and while my memories of this film became a bit vague, I never really forgot about it. With my love for horror having rekindled in recent years, the urge grew to re-watch this Canadian genre film. I took a bit of effort and a bit of luck to finally track down a copy of it, but I got one. I was literally holding my breath when I popped in the tape (that same day I received it). Maybe this movie would suck, after all those years, not being half the fun I remembered it to be?

Relief. It doesn't suck and it's still fun. But you'll have to be a bit forgiving. And for a horror fan, that's usually not a hard thing to do. THE CLUB basically is an amalgam of good ideas, fun special effects, atmosphere, a healthy dosage of enthusiasm from cast and crew and the use of a great Gothic castle location. Obviously, it's not a horror film to be taken too seriously. But I'll admit, the execution of the film leaves things to be desired. Plus, the movie has a good & fun concept to boot, but lacks a decent story and feels under-developed. It's a simple set-up: There's a school dance in a remote castle. When midnight comes around, a small group of friends suddenly find themselves in a surreal situation. All other students have disappeared, and while they're wandering through the castle alone, trying to figure out what happened to them, they'll soon become the target of nightmarish manifestations.

If you had fun with movies like NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 1 & 3, SPOOKIES, and maybe especially even Ken Russel's 'GOTHIC', then go ahead and give THE CLUB a try. It's a similar film, only with a more 90's look & feel. Back in '94 I didn't realize it, but THE CLUB stars a young Andrea Roth in it. I only "discovered" this blonde Canadian cutie about four years later, when I saw her alongside Rutger Hauer in CROSSWROLDS. Recently I saw John Fawcett's LAST EXIT, and was again surprised about how decent an actress she is (and a mature woman she came to be).

I wish I could see it online so I could remember more about it. I loved the clever philosophy all the way through. If there was a big-budget remake - and there deserves to be one - the baddie would be a gimme for Jack Nicholson. The atmosphere was good, the special effects were great and very cleverly used to create shocks. Every plot twist was well thought out and all the way through you're wondering what 'The Club' actually is.

And then, slowly, you realise......!! Find the film and realise for yourself - I'm not going to spoil it for you. Forget the first comment about it, that guy didn't 'get' it. I've seen it about 4 times, it's worth it.

He was the the reason I spent a very long time trying to track down a tape of this Wyrd little film. My vote definitely would have been higher if there had been more Ferguson it it. Other than that, I found the film a mixed bag -- some unexpected twists and some ho-hum predictable scenes. It certainly deserves a look-see from any horror film afficiando, at least. .