Deadtime Stories

This cheap and cheerful horror anthology might lack star power and some of the technical benefits that a decent budget can bring but it proves a reasonable enough way to pass the time, it's tongue-in-cheek approach complementing the very silly nature of its three twisted fairy tales, as told to irritating brat Brian (Brian DePersia) by his exasperated Uncle Mike (Michael Mesmer).

Tale one revolves around a pair of wicked witches who, with the help of their slave Peter (Scott Valentine), try to resurrect their long dead sister; tale two has pretty cheerleader Rachel (Nicole Picard) pay a visit to her grandmother's house where a werewolf is waiting; the final story features a family of escaped psychos (the Baers) who arrive home to find psychic homicidal maniac Goldi Lox (Cathryn de Prume) living there.

Boasting impressive special effects courtesy of Ed French, surprisingly good performances from its no-name cast, confident direction by Jeffrey Delman, and even a welcome shower scene with hot blonde de Prume, this intentionally daft compendium is pure '80s cheeze that, while unlikely to beat Creepshow to the top spot of anyone's list of '80s horror anthologies, should keep all but the most joyless happy with its hour-and-a-half of mindlessly diverting silliness.

5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6 for the innovative opening credits sequence and the terrible theme song.