October HorrorFest Day 7

Edge of Sanity (1989)

Director: Gérard Kikoïne

Writers: J.P. Félix, Ron Raley

Starring: Anthony Perkins

Have you ever wanted to see a movie were Norman Bates fondles a hooker's rear end, while said hooker is dressed like Madonna from "Like a virgin?" If you answered yes, well Edge of Sanity is your movie.

Dr. Henry Jekyll (Anthony Perkins) is experimenting with cocaine in hopes of using it as an anesthetic. Late one night it accidentally gets mixed with another drug and Jekyll gets a whiff. The new concoction (Crack I think!) turns him into Jack Hyde. Mr. Hyde travels London's seedy back streets at night looking for sexual thrills. All the while huffing away on a crack pipe. No really! He also indulges in some murder as Jack The Ripper! Killing off prostitutes left and right. It seems the crack unleashes repressed sexual feelings he had after a humiliation from his childhood.

This is one sleazy, decadent movie. And I loved every minute of it. Perkins plays Mr. Hyde to the hilt. Chewing scenery like mad. The movie fluctuates from straight period clothes for Jekyll scenes and 80's New Wave fashions for Hyde's nighttime sojourns. For what I'm guessing was a low budget the film has some wonderful set designs and is stylishly filmed. Edge of Sanity is an interesting little oddity from the end of the eighties.

I followed it up with...

The Phantom of the Opera (1989)

Director: Dwight H. Little

Writers: Duke Sandefur, Gerry O'Hara

Starring: Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, Bill Nighy, Molly Shannon,

Another late eighties horror film from the producer of Edge of Sanity, Harry Alan Towers. A lavish mix of late slasher film with the classic tale of The Phantom of the Opera.

Christine Day (The beautiful Jill Schoelen) a young Broadway singer in New York City. While auditing for a show she's hit on the head and transported to 1881 London were she is the understudy in the London Opera House. There she's coached by the mysterious Erik Destler. Destler (Robert Englund) is actually The Phantom. Who goes about bumping off anyone who stands in the way of Christine becoming a star.

I quite enjoy this one. I'm not sure what they spent on this one, but I think it's all on the screen. It looks great. The sets, costumes and lighting a great. Englund turns in a pretty good Phantom who isn't as Freddy Kruger as you'd expect. Jill Schoelen, always a reliable scream queen looks gorgeous in all the period costumes and makes for an endearing heroine. A young and cute Molly Shannon (Yep, that Molly Shannon.) turns up as Christine's best friend in the New York scenes.