Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A stone cold classic of comedy horror, 25 Dec 2006
1988 was the year of Elviramania. With her own slot (Lord knows what lip smacking double entendre she would spin from that) on Channel 4 and a poster on the wall of every hormone-addled teenage boy, Cassandra Peterson's vampy alter ego captured the public imagination for a brief moment in time and launched her movie right on target. And what a beautifully judged movie it was. It's spiky but warm hearted, just like the lady herself, and sweetly reminiscent of the madcap Roger Corman movies it idolises, only this time the principal female character is no hapless victim.
The tale begins with Elvira as a hostess of largely forgotten "crap-ola" horror movies on a no budget cable channel, with only her dream of having her own Las Vegas revue keeping her going. After being told that realising such a dream will set her back fifty grand, she's all but given up. But out of the blue, what should happen but an invite to the reading of the will of her recently deceased great aunt Morganna. With visions of megabucks and Vegas in her eyes, Elvira heads to the sleepy town of Fallwell (a witty slight against the Reverend Jerry from Peterson, a longterm campaigner for gay rights).
Of course, it wouldn't be much of a movie if everything ran smoothly. From the moment of her arrival in Fallwell, Elvira has to contend with her bitter uncle Vinny, denied anything from his sister Morganna's estate, Patti the town's good time gal and rival for the affections of local handyman Bob Grinnig, and not least Chastity Pariah the chairwoman of the Fallwell Morality Club, a brilliant turn from the always memorable Edie McGlurg. Between this lot even a spunky thing like Elvira would have her work cut out, but I'm hardly giving anything away by revealing that her smarts and independent spirit win the day, as well as the ultimate affection of Fallwell's residents.
There's something for everyone to like about this movie. Elvira is a paragon of feminine sexiness without dumb pliability, sassy and quick without any unpleasant sharp edges. The film has a low budget feel, shot on a small number of creaky locations, but that only draws your attention to the evocative American Gothic settings and impeccable characterisation. The comic timing is superb in every scene, setting you on rails and not letting you off the ride until you've hit some killer punchline or some side-splitting visual gag. Quite why this movie isn't a consistent presence of every 'greatest comedies' list we'll never know, but that's surely an injustice. Maybe that's all the more reason to love it. Not just a movie gem, but one you're free to discover all by yourself.
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4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
elvira, 12 May 2006
i think that elvira is the most funny but very erotic vamp ever lived the film is fantastic especialy of poking fun at sussan kellermanns breasts and the way she put the fun into an posh upper class town where the town is snooty riddened by desease led by the evil chastity pariah and even uncle vinny whos hellbent of getting that recipe book and to get rid of elvira but dear elviras plans is for las vegas sucess and to turn the town around it is the most popular horror comedy since fright night did you know that they used the very same house from fright night for elvira the mistress of the dark and what an great name to call your pootch algonquin
and elvira made the movie into an phenomenal institution all over the world and it was cleverly played by comedienne and singer cassandra peterson who wrote the screenplay for the show and great special effects and an excellent soundtrack to date and i give it 20 out of 10.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Carry on Cleavage!, 17 Aug 2008
Yes, this should rightly be called Carry on Cleavage, as it combines the cheeky seaside humour of the old Carry On films with the finest gothic decollettage since Fenella Fielding in Carry on Screaming!
OK, so to the plot - Elvira's aunt has died and left her something in her will. Elvira thinks that this may fund her dream of starring in her own Vegas show so she heads to her aunts small town America home only to find she has inherited a run down house in a town full of locals that don't appreciate her sassy style, apart from the towns kids who love her wild spirit and secretly a few of the towns men who appreciate her obvious charms, much to the disgust of their straightlaced wives!
She finds that there is also witchcraft afoot, with her evil uncle being a key player who wants to get his hands on her inheritance to gain control of the unearthly powers held in her aunts book of spells that Elvira has also unwittingly come into the possession of.
Anyway, that's enough plot. There is some sharp and snappy scriptwriting, some great one liners and a couple of great set pieces, especially where her magical casserole turns the town fair into a mass orgy!
In short, this is great harmless chest heaving fun for all the family. Enjoy.
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