Midnight

I recently watched Midnight (1988) on Tubi. The storyline revolves around a late-night horror movie host facing the threat of losing her show's rights and timeslot. To reclaim control, she takes matters into her own hands, enlisting a new lover and old friends to confront the investor.

Directed by Norman Thaddeus Vane (Club Life) and featuring Lynn Redgrave (Gods and Monsters), Tony Curtis (Some Like it Hot), Steve Parrish (Scanners III), and Karen Lorre (Mortuary Academy), the film is an apparent Elvira knockoff without much effort to disguise it.

The plot is predictable and lacks imagination. Norman Thaddeus Vane's presentation, direction, attire, and makeup were awful. Despite some enjoyable 80s nudity and Karen Lorre's attractiveness, the love story feels awkward, and the ending is cliché.

In conclusion, Midnight falls short as an Elvira parody, earning a 3/10 score. I recommend skipping it, as it's not be worth your time.

Well, It seems I'm the first person to give this movie a "6" ! It definitely doesn't deserve more, but it is fascinating in a strange sort of way. Lynn Redgrave is spectacular as an Elvira-clone going crazy for the loss of her show. She is over the top and out of her head for all the movie, a tour de force of bitchy ways. The movie is worth seeing only for her performance and her funny, delirious dresses. There is also the beautiful Karen Witter, anothe reason not to pass over this movie. It is worth a rental, at least.

The first thing i thought when i watched Midnight was... Elvira Mistress of the Dark RIP OFF. The big difference is that Elvira was released in 88 and Midnight in 89, they took Lynn Redgrave (RIP) as a horror hostess. She comes up the stage from a coffin with a bloody mary, snarls at her (extremely annoying) fans who repeat everything she says. And presents some unknown cheesy B movie of which you'll never see a clip or whatsoever, the plot might also might be a reminder of Elvira since in both films there's a problem with the budget and the hostess has to try to get the right amount of money to save her show. Anyway, Midnight's dick of a producer herrasses her because he wants to own the copyrights. Some goodlooking guy who pretends to be her biggest fan forces himself into her life etcetera etcetera, most of the movie is just a typical comedy with not that much of enjoyable content. Untill the last 30 minutes they turn the movie into a thriller, and that's when things start to get interesting. One more last thing, the only thing that doesn't turn Midnight into a complete Elvira clone is the fact that she's a loudmouthed witch, are you interested. Have a look at the movie, an akward blend between two genres.

Stick with Elvira. "Midnight" feels like a cheap, low-brow and unimaginative send up of something that was already a send up. You just don't know where its head was at? I wasn't expecting any great shakes, but what I got was an annoying, dumb-down and witless horror comedy. Even with the likes of Lynn Redgrave and Tony Curtis, it's almost the pits. A fiendish, off-the-rocker Redgrave (who's really getting into her sour diva character?!) was terrible. A slumming Curtis faired no better, but the script they had to work with was just cringe-worthy. The majority of the characters are not really likable. The story simply goes through the motions. As it goes all over the place. Actresses competing for the affection of a toy-boy, millionaire producer trying to steal the business rights to Midnight's schlock horror TV show, before settling into a whodunit with sledgehammer mentality. And don't forget the fans… these are true fanatics. Might have been fun to make, but I found it less so to watch. "Midnight" is tacky, monotonous with little frights and even less so laughs.

It seems that Lynn Redgrave wants to do everything. She's done silly kids' films ("The Lion Of Oz), silly should-have-been-for-adults films ("Hansel and Gretel") shouldn't-have-been-done films (What Ever Happened To..."), and the list just goes on and on. That said, what in heck is this film supposed to be? Funny? I did laugh, but not too often. Dirty? It had some sex/nudity in it. Parody? I guess I missed the joke.

It seems that Midnight is a dead ringer (ha ha) for Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. They have the same job, but the similarity ends there. Midnight is not funny. There's the big difference between the two. Anyhow, she meets some guy and they do things. End of story. There are some freaky moments--when she describes her snake as a phallic symbol, you do get somewhat unnerved. He rides a motorbike really fast, which apparently says something about him. She thinks it's cool. I think it's dangerous and stupid. Oh well, that's why I didn't write the movie.

In conclusion, this movie is awful. It doesn't know what it's doing, and so you just won't know how to react. Well, one must give credit where credit is due. Lynn Redgrave is so far over the top you can barely see her, but she does what she can. She's frightening, occasionally funny, but always watchable. Nice try.