Au revoir Papa

Here's another gloriously absurd and grotesque horror movie concept that only could have sprung from the mind of delirious early 80's scriptwriters. Dig this: A father and his two psychically and telekinetic gifted children lives isolated atop of a mountain, because daddy is worried the government will come and kidnap the children for examination. One day, however, the happy family receives a visit from a gang of nasty biker thugs and they kill daddy right in front of the children. Rather than to use their powers to rescue him, Beth and Michael prefer to resurrect his corpse later on and employ it as a tool of vengeance against the bikers. Meanwhile a social worker (Marilyn Burns of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre") and the new local deputy (Fabian Forte the singer) attempt to visit the family without finding it strange the father is never available. "Kiss Daddy Goodbye" is likely to be the only movie ever in which children toy around with one of their deceased parents and even instruct him to dig his own grave. However, this ultra morbid storyline aspect is probably the only reason to check out this otherwise boring, unexciting and amateurishly put together film. The death sequences are dull and bloodless, the pacing is intolerably slow and the acting performances of the entire cast rank among the worst I've ever seen in 80's horror; and that is saying quite a lot. Especially the child actors are terrible, but they are director Patrick Regan's offspring and they look exclusively modeled after the uncanny kids of "Village of the Damned". Apparently only cute-faced kids with white hair and pale skins are allowed to have telepathic powers. This rare and curious piece of 80's trash is probably not worth tracking down, but still I can't say I regret having seen it. There's a certain something about this movie which fellow cult fanatics will notice and appreciate as well.

A father is killed by a biker gang who are trespassing on his property. What the gang don't realise is that his young kids have psychic and telekinetic powers and bring Pops back to life to enact his revenge after, bizarrely, painting his face.

I love movies featuring creepy kids. Bloody Birthday is a great example. The sequences involving the children are great. But, unfortunately, a lot of the film involves protracted sequences regarding the new deputy sheriff and his romance with a woman who works as a social worker for the children who checks in on them from time to time as their father (used to) home-school them. These sequences are boring, and even more frustrating is that the social worker is played by none other than Marilyn Burns. The material she is given is embarrassingly slight, and she's worth so much more than the lines she has to deliver here. She bursts into laughter a couple of times during her delivery and is probably chuckling at the dire dialogue she's been subjected to.

There should have been more creepy kid episodes and less Marilyn being demoted to being a sex object social worker.

2 out of 5 stars.

I rented this only because Marilyn Burns was in it, and I am a huge fan of hers and of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," where she played her most famous role of Sally, the terror-stricken heroine. I had seen her in "Eaten Alive," Tobe Hooper's follow-up to TCM, and she was great in that. And I wondered if she would keep that same style of acting in this. (If you've seen her in those two movies, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.)

What a surprise, she played an extremely timid role, and it was interesting to see her acting in such a contemporary manner. She plays Nora Dennis, a social worker of some sorts who checks on these two children every month. The children are these two little psychic kids whose father was killed by roadhogs. They bring him back through "the Power" to exact revenge, and thus he does, in a very boring manner.

The other part of the movie is Nora meeting and becoming involved with this cop who is investigating some on what's going on in the movie. Burns plays the role well, but I've seen her do better, and she never actually gets to pull off that Sally-like performance that made her first two roles so memorable. In fact, this film in a whole is quite timid, and pretty boring. There is no blood whatsoever (not that I'm a gorehound, but some would be okay.) It's a weak movie, and I can't recommend it much. But fans of Burns might be interested in seeing her in this film.

Hilarious. The psychic children are what saves this movie. The kids playing these roles are so completely lifeless that their performances steal the show. Apparently they're the director's kids... which makes sense. That's the only way they would have ever been given the opportunity to act. They speak their lines with total indifference, with no expressions except for the same blank stare that they wear throughout the whole movie.

The makeup on their daddy is equally fantastic. It's so stupid you have to see it to believe it.

A classic. Watch and laugh...

I saw this years and years ago on Elvira. It was amusing because of the strange, stilted quality of the child actors. Years later I met the producer at a cook out in Santa Monica. She was very self effacing and sweet. Once in awhile I would see her on the street and wave.

In the early nighties they opened a "Hogie" sandwich place at a maul at Pico and La Cienega in L.A. The put up a sign advertising the Fabian would be there making a special appearance. I thought it was kinda funny. I didn't go to see if he was there for the opening. I think I had a sandwich there once. I don't know if it's there anymore.

I remember you used to see the big sized box for this film at the video store.