This 55-minute retrospective documentary dishes some fascinating dirt on the troubled production of the early 90's slasher horror cult classic "Popcorn." The whole issue of Alan Ormsby being fired several weeks into the shooting of the movie because he was reportedly taking too long to set up and shoot scenes gets addressed head on. Ditto Jill Schoelen replacing original lead actress Amy O'Neill under less than pleasant circumstances. Director Mark Herrier insists that he helmed the picture, although other cast members claim that Bob Clark basically co-directed the film. Moreover, we also learn that the movie theater used as the main location was a cesspool, how there was two weeks rehearsal for the cast which enabled them to form a close-knit bond, and that the film receiving an R rating from the MPAA for being too intense had a severe impact on the advertising campaign. By far the most poignant segment centers on late actor Tom Villard, who everyone remembers as a lovely guy and a very giving and talented thespian. Recommended viewing for fans of the film.
2 Reviews
Excellent Documentary on a Troubled Production
Michael_Elliott26 November 2017
Midnight Madness: The Making Of Popcorn (2017)
**** (out of 4)
Excellent fifty-five minute documentary that takes a look at the somewhat disastrous making of POPCORN, the 1991 horror movie. Director Mark Herrier is joined by cast members Jill Schoelen, Malcolm Danare, Derek Rydall, Ivette Soler, Elliott Hurst and Dee Wallace as well as make-up artist Mat Falls, composer Paul Zaza and the distributor Jonathan Wolf. If you're familiar with the film then you know it had a very troubled production and thankfully this documentary doesn't shy away from that. We hear why the original director and lead star were fired. We hear about how producer Bob Clark hired his friend Herrier and then we get conflicting stories about who really directed the picture. It's a pretty awkward section where Herrier talks about it being his films while some of the cast say Clark took it over. There are some great stories about shooting the picture in Jamaica and how a lot of things just didn't go right. I'm really glad that the documentary didn't shy away from some of the negative stuff and there's no question that fans of the film are going to love this. Heck, I'm not a fan of the film and I really loved this documentary. The interviews are excellent and this is certainly a must see.
**** (out of 4)
Excellent fifty-five minute documentary that takes a look at the somewhat disastrous making of POPCORN, the 1991 horror movie. Director Mark Herrier is joined by cast members Jill Schoelen, Malcolm Danare, Derek Rydall, Ivette Soler, Elliott Hurst and Dee Wallace as well as make-up artist Mat Falls, composer Paul Zaza and the distributor Jonathan Wolf. If you're familiar with the film then you know it had a very troubled production and thankfully this documentary doesn't shy away from that. We hear why the original director and lead star were fired. We hear about how producer Bob Clark hired his friend Herrier and then we get conflicting stories about who really directed the picture. It's a pretty awkward section where Herrier talks about it being his films while some of the cast say Clark took it over. There are some great stories about shooting the picture in Jamaica and how a lot of things just didn't go right. I'm really glad that the documentary didn't shy away from some of the negative stuff and there's no question that fans of the film are going to love this. Heck, I'm not a fan of the film and I really loved this documentary. The interviews are excellent and this is certainly a must see.
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