Hysterical Reviews

I loved it as a kid when they showed this movie every free Pay-TV weekend in the 80's. It had funny jokes about my favorite horror films. It was just as good as Airplane! I thought.

Now it's a bit goofy, dated and cheesy. The Ralph character who rode the bike and kept saying "You're all doomed!" got pretty annoying.

The Hudson Brothers had lame jokes; where did they come from, and where did they go after this weird film? Boys, it just isn't funny anymore.

I loved the Venecia ghost woman (Julie Newmar) in the lighthouse, and her freaky husband Captain Howdy (Richard Kiel).

The intentionally-generic opening title song is still funny today.

"What difference does it make?"

Long before the Wayans brothers dragged the horror spoof genre through the gutter with their Scary Movie series, The Hudson Brothers wrote and starred in this little gem that spoofs every horror movie from Jaws to The Exorcist. When a novelist retreats to sleepy little Hellview to recharge his writing batteries, he becomes immersed in a 100 year old mystery involving a haunted lighthouse, and the discovery of the long dead lighthouse keeper, Captain James Howdy. The townsfolk call in two inept...whoops, I mean intrepid adventurers, Dr. Paul Baton and Fritz, to investigate what it all means. When the corpse of Captain Howdy returns to life, he begins killing townspeople, turning them in to turtleneck wearing zombies who say only "What difference does it make?" It's all tied in to the spirit that inhabits the light in the lighthouse. Completely non-sensical, cheesy, and juevenille, it's also inexplicably entertaining. Set on the Oregon coast, the movie does contain a certain cool atmosphere that adds to the movies charm. A lot of well known character actors make the most of their small roles, including Murray Hamilton, spoofing his own role of the town mayor from Jaws. As usual, he refuses to close the beaches. Watch for John Larroquette in a small role as the worlds worst tour boat guide, Bob X. Cursion. Other genre character actors include Richard "Jaws" Kiel, Julie "Catwoman" Newmar, Franklyn Ajaye, and Cindy Pickett. Parodies of Dracula, Jaws, The Exorcist, Friday the 13th, Night Of The Living Dead, and countless others abound, culminating in a dancing zombie musical number. Not a gut busting laugh riot, but incredibly charming, and undeniably fun. I don't think the movie ever got a theatrical release. It's one of those movies I discovered long ago on cable, thinking I was the only one who ever saw it. Over the years I've met many others who have the same "Oh yeah, I remember that movie! I love that movie!" moment of recognition when I mention it. A cult movie if there ever was one.

Remember the Hudson Brothers? That wacky comedy team that follows in the footsteps of the Marx Bros? Don't worry, no on does.
Still, I loved it when I was a kid, especially "The Hop" scene. I would really love to see this one again.

Silly Hudson Brothers spoof of horror movies. Rented it on a whim and have now seen it so many times that I can speak along with the movie. Sadly, I'm one of few, so mumbling: "What difference does it make?" rarely results in anyone understanding.

I'm a little eh out of it. THe acting's just below par, and that's the best element, besides the dance numbers.

It's just... out there. A Halloween-themed movie with klittle concrete plot, but at the same time I have this stuff to say:

1) It's so gosh-effing terrible, that it's kind of funny. IT dances (literally) over the line between serious comedy and we-kind-of-know-this-flop-is-a-joke, and that inconsistency is a little daunting.

2) Very quotable.

But oddly enough, "what difference does it make?"

I remember liking this movie when I saw it once when I was around 8 years old and now realize that it was probably a good way to waste an afternoon. Looking back, I think it was corny and childish.

welcome to the town of hellview!

Classic campy horror comedy from the mid 80's. Very funny. The Hudson Brothers deliver. You're doomed!!

I remember liking this movie when I saw it once when I was around 8 years old and now realize that it was probably a good way to waste an afternoon. Looking back, I think it was corny and childish.

For those of you who have bagged this movie, I would like to quote Ralph...

"You're Doomed.... Definitely doomed."

and to quote Dracula "Boys, don't be in such a rush..."

In other words... "What difference does it make"

Only fans will echo my sentiments.

Cheers, Ross.

I would rate this a 0 if Bud Cort wasn't in it, but I did like the dance sequence in the end with the zombies.