The Boy from Hell

I first saw this on cable (as Bloodspell) like 15 years ago as a kid. I enjoyed it. I saw it for the first time again since then last night and didn't really feel the same way. The only thing I remembered was the kid who got sucked into the wood chipper and the lady from Look Who's Talking was in it. Anyways, this is not really all that great. No special effects, absurd acting, and a dim-witted story. I guess it could be good for the bad horror movie buffs, but even I had a hard time sitting through it. Teens start dying at a center for troubled kids. The villain is the new kid who may or may not be possessed by his crazy father. Rather bloodless affair, with next to nothing to recommend it, unless if you were a fan of USA's Saturday Nightmares and your trying to see all those wacky movies again. One and a half stars.

Oddball and hyper-obscure late-80s horror flick that is perhaps not highly memorable, but at least very entertaining while it lasts. The story doesn't make much sense, but it's strangely compelling and keeps you curious. A satanist father pursues his son Daniel into an institute for troubled teenagers - where his mother hid him - and takes possession of his body. Being demonically possessed has advantages, though, as you can joyfully set bullies on fire or throw them into a woodchipper just by using telekinetic powers! There isn't much suspense, but the gore and the make-up effects are surprisingly decent, and there are reasonably good acting performances from teenage beauty Alexandra Kennedy and Linda Hamilton look-alike Twink Kaplan. I probably won't remember anything about "The Boy from Hell" in six months from now, but I wasn't bored or annoyed at any moment.

I personally have not heard of this movie by any other name other than BloodSpell. This was one of those low-budget horrors that went straight to retail and video rental stores.

The main character of the story (Daniel) is sent by his mother to live at a home for emotionally troubled teens. His father is the reason for his relocation, but his mother won't tell him why. As you guessed Daniel becomes possessed by his father and he wreaks terror on the emotionally troubled teens.

I give BloodSpell 6 stars because it wasn't that bad for a low-budget movie. I've seen a hell of a lot worse that's higher rated on here. There's a character or two that add a sense of humor to their mischievous ways but not downright campy to deter from the goings on. It's worth seeing at least once and you may watch it again when the mood strikes. The fil score isn't built on 80's metal theme and dancing teens...it was created with digital synthesizers for a serious feel.

My review was written in November 1988 after watching the movie on Forum video cassette.

The gory horror pic "Bloodspell" is another nightmarish genre title going out direct to video reminiscent of last April's Fox release "Bad Dreams".

Anhony Jenins plays Daniel, a teen with telekinetic powers sent to St. Boniface, a holding center for the evaluation of troubled students, run by Alexandra Kennedy. He's there for his own protection, since his dad (John Rno), the villain of the piece, is after him. It turns out, however, that Jenkins is a menace, killing the fellow student one by one for petty annoyances.

Everyone thinks these gruesome murders are accidents rather than supernaturally caused. Finally dad shows up, a monster (via weak facial makeup effects) who seeks to use his son to further his own rejuvenation.

Young cast is okay (though encouraged to overact) and pic is generally an improvement over the same production team's earlier "Mirror of Death". However, it's still a long road (and budget increase) to bridge the gap between this level of filmmaking and the popular theatrical releases in the "Elm Street" and "Halloween" series.