Stage Fright (2014) Reviews

• I'm gay, I'm gay but not in that way

  basil19842014-04-09

  So that you know, there is a film out there about a summer camp for kids that's owned by Meat Loaf, with fully choreographed song and dance numbers – including lines like 'I'm gay, I'm gay but not in that way' - and a kabuki-masked, falsetto-screaming, guitar-squealing, knife-wielding slasher who hates musical theater and wants to kill the cast of a make-shift production of some-such copy-right-friendly version of 'Phantom of the Opera'. The gore was vivid, the laughs were steady, and I honestly don't think I need to report anything else to help you decide if this one is for you; it definitely has an audience and made for a very strange Late Night Picture Show.

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• Must see throwback slasher musical!

  walkerfe2014-04-03

  Today, we are five decades removed from the strong emergence of the slasher film as a staple sub-genre of horror in cinema. It's fair to assume that the pool of ideas had been running thin if one considers the abundance of remakes from classic franchises which already had more than a handful of sequels under their belts. Where does this leave us and the slasher film today, in 2014? It puts us in the theater, for a musical, in Stage Fright. Combining the behind the scenes process of what it takes to put on such a production within the narrative arc of the overarching movie which is also a musical, there are some clever dance and song numbers…that's really not what I was expecting to be complimenting this movie on before I watched it, but credit must be given where credit is due. Dancing and cleverness aside, this movie shines its brightest when it's at its darkest. A Kabuki mask-wearing hair metal-singing psycho is out to spoil the show, and in doing so he may very well be giving us a new slasher icon. The brilliance of this movie is how quickly and smoothly it brings the story between hilarity and tension, sometimes even merging the two. The musical aspects of the movie are excellently done. Each character or setting has a theme, which get intermingled and blended at appropriate times. Singing was really excellent where it needed to be, and intentionally sub-par or bad when called for as well. Best of all was the contrasting punch between the cheery musical score and the 80's power-chord heavy metal screaming that beefs up all the grisly gory shreddin' fun from our killer.

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• Great watch for classic horror/black comedy fans.

  olivetart2014-05-20

  My opinion on this movie changed SO many times over the course of just KNOWING about it. When I saw the trailer I was excited to see a movie that was basically a throwback to the old school horror films I grew up with... with more singing of course, but a throwback nonetheless. When I finally got the chance to watch it, I was a little disappointed for AT LEAST the first quarter, but it just kept building and building (mind you I don't like musicals at all so I was a bit out of my comfort zone). By the middle of the movie I was definitely glued to my screen, and when the killer finally made his grand entrance I couldn't help but to laugh out loud - in the best way. Anyway, to sum this movie up into three words, I'd have to say: Eccentric, fun, and HILARIOUS. Oh, and keep an eye out for them paying homage to a few classic horror icons. There aren't much, but if you're a junkie like me, they'll probably make you all giddy and excited. And finally, my best piece of advice when viewing this movie that no one ever seems to take - DON'T TAKE THIS MOVIE SERIOUSLY. If you do, you're gonna have a bad time...

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• It's a delightful and original mix of a slasher, musical, and horror comedy.

  timsawicki2014-05-17

  This film is excellent - but it may not be for you if you don't enjoy both irreverent musical comedies -and- slasher films of both the serious and guilty pleasure variety. So if you really enjoyed Pitch Perfect, Scream, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and have seen more than a few stage musicals, then this might just make your night. The only reason this doesn't have a better rating (its currently at a 5, which to me is a crime) is because viewers come to it expecting a slasher, and hate the musical comedy, OR they come to it expecting a musical comedy, and don't like the gore. Or they come to it to see meatloaf - who here plays and sings very much against type, and feel cheated. This is smart, amusing, and will tickle the right people in the right places.

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• Good fun film.. though could have been better

  MikesIDhasbeentaken2014-04-15

  I enjoyed this film, but I was always going to enjoy a musical slasher film starring Meatloaf. That combination alone was enough for me to wait for this eagerly for months. But, this was a little disappointing, the songs were a bit tame, the killings were boring, and the end reveal of the killer was too obvious in the first part of the film that it was never going to be a surprise, not only was it clear who the killer was, you could guess the 'hidden' motive too. That said, however, it's still a musical slasher film starring meatloaf... if you like the sound of that, then you can't go to far wrong here.

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