Hanky Panky

Hanky Panky is co-directed by Lindsey Haun and Nick Roth, a very off-kilter, absurd, and easily cult-followed film. The film, with its unique storyline, odd humor, and surprising speckles of depth, easily makes it memorable material, but then again, what thrusts "Hanky Panky" into an entirely distinctive realm is the eccentric core of the movie: a man and his talking napkin on a mission to save the world from an obscure threat hiding out in a remote Utah cabin. Haun and Roth make the film playful enough to really appeal to the audience. It's the kind of gem that you won't come across too often, where humor is placed on top of a genuinely rich emotional subtext to create a picture, something that is definitely sure to resonate for years.

This film was alright, it was definitely made for a specific type of audience that I'm not apart of. It is different and new, but I can tell it was a low budget film, and the special effects were too bad, maybe that was on purpose to give more uniqueness to the film? There were funny parts that made me chuckle and was enjoyable and the actors were funny at times, but kind of unlikeable at the same time. I feel like this falls under the "it's so bad it's good" group of films, and could see how this film could get its name out there if it came out in the early 2000s instead of 2023. The start of the film was the better part, and then later on in the middle of it my attention got lost. Since I had a hard time focusing in the middle of the film, the ending was hard to fully understand and get back into.

Hanky Panky is a low-budget horror-comedy with a cult following in the making. It's a bizarre mix of nonsense, horror, and humor that somehow works. The self-aware jokes and quirky characters, especially Sam and his talking handkerchief Woody, provide a strange emotional core amidst the chaos. While the rough humor and language might offend some, fans of cult classics will appreciate the film's commitment to its oddball concept. Hanky Panky triumphs also despite its limitations (cast paid all expenses out of own pocket), demonstrating the creativity of the filmmakers. My guess is that this movie will get more and more famous over time. Great recommendation if you like something different to watch. And a well deserved 7/10.

This film clearly operates on a low budget, and it shows, from the awkward ADR to the dry, sometimes redundant dialogue. The idea of a sentient handkerchief is wildly original and fun, reminiscent of quirky B-horror movies like Jack Frost or The Stuff. Unfortunately, the execution doesn't always match the creativity of the concept. The intro drags, and while there are some genuinely funny moments, the film often leans more on "tell" than "show," which hurts its pacing. The special effects are campy, possibly intentionally so, but still distracting. It seems aimed at a niche audience, likely those who enjoy "so bad it's good" cult films. The actors deliver occasionally amusing performances, though not always likable. The beginning is stronger than the middle, which loses momentum and made it hard to stay engaged through to the end. Still, it has enough odd charm to entertain the right viewer.

Hanky Panky is a film with a 3rd act epic showdown is between a handkerchief and a hat. The film follows Sam, played by Jacob DeMonte-Finn, who has accidentally been invited to spend a weekend at a cabin. He soon gets to know these odd characters and is warned by his talking handkerchief that chaos will ensue and it does. As I watched the film, I could really feel the actors and crew having a lot of fun creating the film. It's always great to see filmmakers making their own paths by getting their friends together and creating something their own way. That is something that I am striving to do myself. I will have to say that I'm not sure if the humor always worked for me. At times it felt like only a select group would enjoy it. Besides that, all of the characters have really interesting and odd qualities to them that fill the movie quite well. Seth Green plays a minor role by voicing the evil hat. I grew up watching Robot Chicken and Can't Hardly Wait, so it was really cool that he was involved in the film. Lindsay Haun and Nick Roth's directing styles are a little subtle here to accommodate a more casual, improvisational film so it would be interesting to see what they could do with another material. Will this become a cult film? The audience will have to deem that. My theory on the sequel name is 2 Hanky 2 Panky.