"The Chair" is another set in prison horror film,which reminds me "Prison"(1988).I loved "Prison",but this one is pretty bad.The performances are mostly awful,the special effects are cheesy beyond belief and there's absolutely no suspense.The gore is also absent,so horror fans will certainly be disappointed with "The Chair".However if you have some time to waste,check it out-you have been warned!!!The plot:Twenty years later there was a riot in prison.During it one of the wardens was electrocuted.Now he is back for revenge...
12 Reviews
Fizzled!
lost-in-limbo10 May 2008
An idealistic psychologist Dr. Harold Woodhouse Langer re-opens an abandon prison to hopefully change the mindset of some hardened criminals. Warden Edward Dwyer thinks very little of the program, but begins to be haunted by the prison's horrific past which he personally knows about. Soon the prisoners break into fear with the strange things going on, but Dr. Langer doesn't believe them.
Soon after the Renny Harlin's 1988 horror flick film 'Prison', came this very cheap, uneven and non-effective prison supernatural horror yarn. It never breaks away from the overall silliness, to storm up anything that resembles thrills. The problem was I don't know if it was trying to be humorous or not, because of how quirky the story and performances came across. Too bad it wasn't funny either. What was the deal of that over-extended opening sequence with that weepy blues song? I had to check the video again to make sure I was watching the right film, because it felt totally out-of-place. This can be said the same for Eddie Reyes' makeshift (carnival sounding) music score, which would go out of its way to butcher some scenes. What drag it out was that it had a slim, ponderous plot that takes ages to get going, and when it does its rather anticlimactic. The talky script might want to be character-based, but it couldn't have been anymore redundant and vapid in detailing the characters and their plights. Batty acting amuses, with the likes of Paul Benedict, Mike Starr and Stephen Geoffreys. Holding her own is Trini Alvarado. Director Waldemar Korzeniowsky clumsily stages it with nothing but routine tools and techniques. The special effects are sparse, but the execution is goofy. I could've gone without it. Very weak.
Soon after the Renny Harlin's 1988 horror flick film 'Prison', came this very cheap, uneven and non-effective prison supernatural horror yarn. It never breaks away from the overall silliness, to storm up anything that resembles thrills. The problem was I don't know if it was trying to be humorous or not, because of how quirky the story and performances came across. Too bad it wasn't funny either. What was the deal of that over-extended opening sequence with that weepy blues song? I had to check the video again to make sure I was watching the right film, because it felt totally out-of-place. This can be said the same for Eddie Reyes' makeshift (carnival sounding) music score, which would go out of its way to butcher some scenes. What drag it out was that it had a slim, ponderous plot that takes ages to get going, and when it does its rather anticlimactic. The talky script might want to be character-based, but it couldn't have been anymore redundant and vapid in detailing the characters and their plights. Batty acting amuses, with the likes of Paul Benedict, Mike Starr and Stephen Geoffreys. Holding her own is Trini Alvarado. Director Waldemar Korzeniowsky clumsily stages it with nothing but routine tools and techniques. The special effects are sparse, but the execution is goofy. I could've gone without it. Very weak.
Fails to jolt the audience
udar5512 December 2009
Warden Edward Dwyer (Paul Benedict of THE JEFFERSONS) re-opens a dilapidated prison with the help of 8 trustee inmates. Along for the ride are psychologist Dr. Langer (James Coco) and his assistant Lisa (Trini Alvarado), who try to help the prisoners with some 80s "I'm okay, you're okay" therapy. Of course, this prison has - I hope you have already guessed - a history and there is a ghost out for revenge. Believe it or not, this is one of the few flicks produced by Angelika Films, a production company offshoot that predated NYC's famous Angelika Film Center (same logo and everything). For a group known for having its finger on the indie pulse, they sure didn't know crap about making a viable commercial product. Actually, husband and wife industrial filmmakers Waldermar Korzenioswsky and Carolyn Swartz are mostly to blame here as they never make it horrific enough, unless you count their terrible attempts at comedy and the ill-fitting piano score and opening blues tune. Just what the hell was the film supposed to be? And how can you waste such a good location and actors? The film ends with an on screen dedication reading "For Jimmy" as Coco died during filming. Poor Jimmy (in both regards). Co-starring Mike Starr, Brad Greenquist, Stephen Geoffreys and a underutilized Richard Edson.
Gosh, what was this all about...?
Vomitron_G6 February 2010
I don't quite know what to make out of this one. Basically it's a rip-off of "Prison" (1988). The latter, in my humble opinion, was a good movie, and "The Chair"... well, sometimes things look pretty bad here. From the moment you hear this extremely mellow jazzy song with female vocals over the opening credits, you just know this is going to be be a rather offbeat flick. An former prison facility re-opens as a psychiatric institute. Turns out that one guard and his friend were held captive during an inmate mutiny years ago. His friend died... but his ghost still haunts the facility and wants... well, something. Not quite sure it's revenge he's after, though. Weird thing was that, during the movie, there were several (often painful) attempts at comedy. And then, after about 20 minutes, this living eyeball with a worm-like body (brought to life by stop-motion) appears several times in a light bulb (!), and it feels like you've just entered a Frank Henenlotter movie. Pretty damn weird. Also add a lot of cheesy animated electricity effects, often for reasons I couldn't fully grasp either. One could argue that David Lynch often makes movies you can't make heads or tails of too, but that would be giving this movie too much credit. Way too much. One of the best scenes undoubtedly was the electrocution, with a cool close-up of an eye popping out of its socket. Those really are the few nifty moments you endure the rest of the movie for. And, yes, it was also fun seeing Mike Starr and Stephen Geoffreys in supporting roles. The other actors were only so-so and sadly, this movie doesn't lead to anything special, except for an ending that indicates that it's all going start again (that, or an ending like "this ain't over yet", was more or less obligatory for the 80's, and onward, so it's not like I'm spoiling anything here). I have a feeling that some day I'll be wanting to re-watch "The Chair", but for now... I'm just going to flunk it. At any rate, like I said, "Prison" is a better watch. And it stars Viggo Mortensen before he became..., well, Famous Viggo Mortensen. So go seek out that one.
Anyways, The Chair
BandSAboutMovies31 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
What was the fetish in the late 80s for prison and electric chair-theme films? Was everyone just excited that Ted Bundy was finally getting his capital punishment? Just from my count, I can call on Prison, Shocker, The Horror Show, Death House, Terror at Alcatraz, Slaughterhouse Rock and Destroyer.
The Chair is James Coco's last movie and it was directed by Waldemar Korzeniowsky, whose wife Carolyn Swartz wrote this. If you haven't heard of either of them, well, this is about the only movie they've done.
Coco is the psychologist at a jail with the goal of actually getting its hardener criminals released into the world as productive citizens and not making money for the government like happens now. That said, the ghost of the last warden, who was electrocuted by his prisoners in a riot, is all over the place, sending zaps of energy and projecting his eyeball into a lightbulb, which is a very upsetting visual.
For horror fans, Stephen Geoffreys from Fright Night would be the big draw. Paul Benedict, who was Harry on The Jeffersons and often plays a judge or a priest or some other authority figure, is also here, as is Trini Alvarado from The Frighteners.
Coco died during the making of this movie and its dedicated to him. I figure he haunted Korzeniowsky and Swartz for making this stinker.
The Chair is James Coco's last movie and it was directed by Waldemar Korzeniowsky, whose wife Carolyn Swartz wrote this. If you haven't heard of either of them, well, this is about the only movie they've done.
Coco is the psychologist at a jail with the goal of actually getting its hardener criminals released into the world as productive citizens and not making money for the government like happens now. That said, the ghost of the last warden, who was electrocuted by his prisoners in a riot, is all over the place, sending zaps of energy and projecting his eyeball into a lightbulb, which is a very upsetting visual.
For horror fans, Stephen Geoffreys from Fright Night would be the big draw. Paul Benedict, who was Harry on The Jeffersons and often plays a judge or a priest or some other authority figure, is also here, as is Trini Alvarado from The Frighteners.
Coco died during the making of this movie and its dedicated to him. I figure he haunted Korzeniowsky and Swartz for making this stinker.
The most uncomfortable seat in the house
Coventry16 October 2022
One thing there wasn't a shortage of during the late 80s were horror movies set in prisons and featuring electric chairs. "The Chair" is already the fourth I've seen, after the superior "Prison", the enjoyable "The Horror Show", and the lousy "Shocker".
Of those, "The Chair" is most reminiscent to Renny Harlin's "Prison" in terms of plot and storyline, but certainly not in terms of quality level and entertainment value. In fact, this might even be one of the weakest and dullest horror movies of the 1980s, and that is saying a lot. You know you're in trouble when an allegedly blood-soaked and grisly horror film opens with the mushiest tearjerker blues-song you ever heard. Those boring opening credits seemingly go on forever, by the way.
The set-up is decent, the locations and set pieces are more than adequate, and the cast is excellent. So where did the unknown and inexperienced director Waldemar Korzeniowsky mess up? Well, maybe partially because he's inexperienced, his film is woefully incoherent and uneven. It's harrowing drama mixed with (unintentional?) comedy and cheesy horror. For example, there are dead-serious psychiatric therapy sessions as well as goofy stop-motion eyeball in a light bulb. One scene luckily compensates for a lot namely, the electrocution footage in which we witness - in extreme closeup - eyes popping out of their sockets and exploding. Yay. Rewind this particular scene a few times, because the rest of the film is dreadfully boring.
Of those, "The Chair" is most reminiscent to Renny Harlin's "Prison" in terms of plot and storyline, but certainly not in terms of quality level and entertainment value. In fact, this might even be one of the weakest and dullest horror movies of the 1980s, and that is saying a lot. You know you're in trouble when an allegedly blood-soaked and grisly horror film opens with the mushiest tearjerker blues-song you ever heard. Those boring opening credits seemingly go on forever, by the way.
The set-up is decent, the locations and set pieces are more than adequate, and the cast is excellent. So where did the unknown and inexperienced director Waldemar Korzeniowsky mess up? Well, maybe partially because he's inexperienced, his film is woefully incoherent and uneven. It's harrowing drama mixed with (unintentional?) comedy and cheesy horror. For example, there are dead-serious psychiatric therapy sessions as well as goofy stop-motion eyeball in a light bulb. One scene luckily compensates for a lot namely, the electrocution footage in which we witness - in extreme closeup - eyes popping out of their sockets and exploding. Yay. Rewind this particular scene a few times, because the rest of the film is dreadfully boring.
Avoid, avoid, avoid
mainec27 July 1999
When I went down to the video store to rent this movie I looked at the back of the film and read the short description of the movie. It looked kind of cool and had a somewhat interesting story so I decided to rent it.
In the introduction of the movie you see people cleaning out an old prison and in the background you hear this blues/soul music. This was the first hint that the movie was bad.
If I wanted blues I would have rented The Blues Brothers, but I wanted a horror movie so the tune felt all wrong.
To sum this up. The movie was bad and not really a horror movie. More of a drama/thriller. I have three carefully chosen words for this movie. Avoid, avoid and avoid.
In the introduction of the movie you see people cleaning out an old prison and in the background you hear this blues/soul music. This was the first hint that the movie was bad.
If I wanted blues I would have rented The Blues Brothers, but I wanted a horror movie so the tune felt all wrong.
To sum this up. The movie was bad and not really a horror movie. More of a drama/thriller. I have three carefully chosen words for this movie. Avoid, avoid and avoid.
**thumbs down**
dagirl714 June 2000
I remember borrowing this movie when I couldn't find anything else I wanted.I've rented quite a few bad videos and The Chair was one of them.I didn't follow it too well and come to think of it I didn't even end up watching the whole thing.
So videos are like books,what you see on the cover isn't always what you get.
So videos are like books,what you see on the cover isn't always what you get.
all those men and one woman,one young beautiful woman.
nikkivisser2 May 2016
i was hoping trini would be more hornier and suggestive.her character was the only woman in a men's prison.men who haven't had the pleasures of the flesh in years.she could've had any man she wanted but never did.this was a missed opportunity for skin and sex.she could've been in the showers, naked and soap dripping between her breasts .i was hoping trini would be more hornier and suggestive.her character was the only woman in a men's prison.men who haven't had the pleasures of the flesh in years.she could've had any man she wanted but never did.this was a missed opportunity for skin and sex.she could've been in the showers, naked and soap dripping between her breasts .
Feelings don't matter when you've got thousands of volts of electricity going through you.
mark.waltz9 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A prison run by three people? Seems unlikely, especially if there's a ghost that needs guarding. The staff of three (not including mostly unseen clerical staff) includes an idiotic psychologist (James Coco) who gathers in the hallway of the cellblock to get each of the violent inmates to share their feelings and reveal their dreams, virginal assistant Trini Alvarado and nervous warden Paul Bentley. When they get settled in, they discover by accident (the violent electrocution death of a visiting electrician) that a prison riot lead to the death of a guard by the same method and that their spirit angrily still roams the halls.
I thought it was somewhat clever that Coco, Benedict and later Alvarado, relive the riots by seeing the guard's death through their faces on his body, and the giant eye of the dead guard appearing as a lightbulb as electricity flies around the cellblock. But the script is filled with idiotic psychological mumbo jumbo that makes Coco's character come off as a huge fool, and that results him giving a performance that comes off as hammy and phony. Even actors in parody knew when to reign it in, and Coco never does. Benedict, determined to make viewers forget about his droll character of Mr. Bentley on "The Jeffersons", is a bit more subtle, but also comes off poorly. Only Alvarado, who seems not to be doing any acting, manages not to be outlandish, just beautifully bland. Low budget and forced, this horror spoof is an instant blackout where the viewer hopes the lights never come back up.
I thought it was somewhat clever that Coco, Benedict and later Alvarado, relive the riots by seeing the guard's death through their faces on his body, and the giant eye of the dead guard appearing as a lightbulb as electricity flies around the cellblock. But the script is filled with idiotic psychological mumbo jumbo that makes Coco's character come off as a huge fool, and that results him giving a performance that comes off as hammy and phony. Even actors in parody knew when to reign it in, and Coco never does. Benedict, determined to make viewers forget about his droll character of Mr. Bentley on "The Jeffersons", is a bit more subtle, but also comes off poorly. Only Alvarado, who seems not to be doing any acting, manages not to be outlandish, just beautifully bland. Low budget and forced, this horror spoof is an instant blackout where the viewer hopes the lights never come back up.
No Blockbuster but still interesting
nettiegurl10 July 2021
This film is okay for a 1988 B-movie. Feature released on HBO and direct to video in the day.
I remember renting it at a Blockbuster because Stephen Geoffreys (Fright Night) starred. The other core cast, Trini Alvarado, James Coco, Paul Benedict hold their own. The direction is mediocre at best, but Interesting. With the prisoners inflected in some lame rehabilitation program that lacks luster and goes nowhere. The plot surrounds the gruesome murder of the prison's former warden. And strange things begin happening. Which is typical for a horror suspense thriller. It has its moments. One area seems to highlight a potential romance between the female intern and a streetwise inmate.
I remember renting it at a Blockbuster because Stephen Geoffreys (Fright Night) starred. The other core cast, Trini Alvarado, James Coco, Paul Benedict hold their own. The direction is mediocre at best, but Interesting. With the prisoners inflected in some lame rehabilitation program that lacks luster and goes nowhere. The plot surrounds the gruesome murder of the prison's former warden. And strange things begin happening. Which is typical for a horror suspense thriller. It has its moments. One area seems to highlight a potential romance between the female intern and a streetwise inmate.
Unusual, largely unsuccessful dark horror comedy
lor_28 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
My review was written in May 1988 after a Cannes Film Festival Market screening.
"The Chair" is a curious combination of black comedy and horror that features both impressive scenes and harmful lapses in taste. Angelika Films faces a tough challenge to find an audience for this oddity.
Film's basic premise is similar to that of Irwin Yablans' recent horror thriller "Prison" -the spirit of a man (the waden) executed 20 years at High Street correctional facility haunts the place, seeking revenge on the guard Eddie (Paul Benedict) who failed to come to his aid when the rioting inmates put him in the electric chair.
To this story, which also features the "Prison" genre animated effects when the spirit attacks prisoners and other people, is added a most unusual tale of unbalanced prison psychologist Dr. Langer (played by the late James Coco), who uses the nine prisoners transferred to his decrepit institution as guinea pigs for his experiments in conditioning. With his pretty new assistant Lisa (Trini Alvarado), the nutty doctor (who fancies himself as Doc in John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row") subjects his charges to idiotic word games and feeds them Chinese food before bedtime to increase their dream output.
He also covers up several murders caused by the phantom, before the prisoners finally mutiny and murder him right ahead of the phantom's revenge against Eddie.
With Coco giving a fascinating performance that adds sympathy for a generally negative character, film occasionally soars, abetted by solid ensemble playing by the cast of prisoners plus sympathetic readings by Alvarado and her prisoner beau Gary McCleery.
However, the horror elements frequently intrude, particularly the grisly murders of Coco's character and, in flashback, the previous warden whose spirit lives on. Repeated use of a stop-motion animated effect for an eyeball creature superimposed on a light bulb which torments the paranoid Eddie is silly, as is attempted comical music.
Director Waldemar Korzeniowsky sustains a gritty, realistic backdrop for the proceedings, but fails to maintain the proper tone.
"The Chair" is a curious combination of black comedy and horror that features both impressive scenes and harmful lapses in taste. Angelika Films faces a tough challenge to find an audience for this oddity.
Film's basic premise is similar to that of Irwin Yablans' recent horror thriller "Prison" -the spirit of a man (the waden) executed 20 years at High Street correctional facility haunts the place, seeking revenge on the guard Eddie (Paul Benedict) who failed to come to his aid when the rioting inmates put him in the electric chair.
To this story, which also features the "Prison" genre animated effects when the spirit attacks prisoners and other people, is added a most unusual tale of unbalanced prison psychologist Dr. Langer (played by the late James Coco), who uses the nine prisoners transferred to his decrepit institution as guinea pigs for his experiments in conditioning. With his pretty new assistant Lisa (Trini Alvarado), the nutty doctor (who fancies himself as Doc in John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row") subjects his charges to idiotic word games and feeds them Chinese food before bedtime to increase their dream output.
He also covers up several murders caused by the phantom, before the prisoners finally mutiny and murder him right ahead of the phantom's revenge against Eddie.
With Coco giving a fascinating performance that adds sympathy for a generally negative character, film occasionally soars, abetted by solid ensemble playing by the cast of prisoners plus sympathetic readings by Alvarado and her prisoner beau Gary McCleery.
However, the horror elements frequently intrude, particularly the grisly murders of Coco's character and, in flashback, the previous warden whose spirit lives on. Repeated use of a stop-motion animated effect for an eyeball creature superimposed on a light bulb which torments the paranoid Eddie is silly, as is attempted comical music.
Director Waldemar Korzeniowsky sustains a gritty, realistic backdrop for the proceedings, but fails to maintain the proper tone.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
