Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Kodie Bird True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Hattie I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Coventry "Wacko", "Student Bodies", "Pandemonium" and "Class Reunion" are all slasher parodies that were released in either 1981 or 1982. In other words, at a time when the trend of prototypical 80's high school slashers still had to boom beyond proportions, there were already FOUR movies spoofing the typical trademarks of such films like "Black Christmas", "When a Stranger Calls", "Friday the 13th" and particularly "Halloween". The main problem with these films is that, for every remotely fun gag or ingenious element of parody, there are an average of two dozen painfully misplaced, pathetic and even downright agitating bad jokes. I swear, some of the jokes in "Wacko" are so deplorable that you'll feel embarrassed for the actors and actresses that actually have to tell them with a straight face. Nevertheless this is a remarkable little film with a peculiar ensemble cast and a handful of perplexing (both good and bad) sequences. Thirteen years after she witnessed her sister getting slashed by the Lawnmower Killer – a traumatic mental experience which is bound to screw her up for life – Mary is preparing herself to go to the Halloween prom with her boyfriend, Norman Bates. The same morning, however, a loony who is believed to be the killer escapes from the nearby mental asylum. Fortunately for Mary, or perhaps not, obsessive copper Dick Harbinger never considered the case of the Lawnmower killings to be closed and shows up during the prom as well. The Lawnmower Killer wears a Halloween pumpkin over his/her head and he could pretty much be everyone, like Mary's father who's always mowing the lawn or her boyfriend who can't help producing the sound of a rusty lawnmower when sexually aroused. Writer/director Greydon Clark made a handful of remarkably eccentric and memorable horror flicks, like "Satan's Cheerleaders", "Without Warning" and the ridiculously atrocious "Uninvited". All three of them were actually funnier than "Wacko" even though this is supposed to be the goofy one. It's really weird that Clark managed to gather such a respectable cast. "Wacko" stars veterans like Joe Don Baker ("Walking Tall", "Welcome Home Soldier Boys"), Stella Stevens ("The Poseidon Adventure", "The Ballad of Cable Hogue") and George Kennedy! Now, George appeared in many inferior movies but I never thought he'd played the role of a perverted father who watches his own teenage daughters undress! Say it isn't so, George! There are also familiar 25+ year old's to play the roles of high-school teenagers, like Andrew Dice Clay (the one and only Ford Fairlane gives away a wondrous John Travolta spoof) and the unearthly ravishing E.G. Daily.

simoneski My brother and I absolutely love this movie. So many quotable lines, so many wonderfully absurd sequences. We know certain sections of this picture verbatim and have even created a techno-track comprised of samples from the film.My fave character is the psychiatrist Joe Don Baker brings into Charles Napier's office, Dr.Dick. What a classic. "If you piss him off....run!" "You've inflicted emotional wounds which may take years to heal!"Also Harry Palms, the school's "vice" principal "Look at him now....gentle as a lamb. And blank as a fart." and of course Joe Don Baker who is always a welcome presence to any picture. His rendition of Dick Harbinger, the cop who hasn't slept in 13 years, is simply sensational. "It's the 13th anniversary of the lawnmower killings. It's October 31st. 31 backwards is 13, it's Friday, it's Halloween, it's Prom Night. There's a crazy loose. I'm outta coffee."It's certainly not a movie for everyone (ie. those looking for sophisticated, high-brow fare or well-drawn characters) but if all you're after is a good laugh then WACKO will do the trick.It's not easy to find - I own a LaserDisc version which is pretty crummy quality and the VHS versions floating around have seen better days but you might occasionally run into this flick on TV late at night. I'll be one of the first to buy the DVD whenever it makes it's way to this shiny new format.It's amazing how many "stars" Greydon Clark was able to assemble for this absurdist extravaganza. Andrew Dice Clay is memorable as Tony Schlongini - "Everyone's talking' about him, people that know him just love him, so if you're feeling down, or if you're feeling blue, this dude will make you feel super-coooool"TONY SCHLONGINI - Owwwwwwwwww!

james_oblivion I think it's funny that someone actually thought this was an inspiration for "The Lawnmower Man," which was actually loosely based on a story published by Stephen King five years before "Wacko" was made.So...inspiration for "The Lawnmower Man"? No. Damn funny horror spoof? Yes. Check this out, along with "Student Bodies"...the only two good horror spoofs to date.

Urban-7 This is absolutely fab. Among the greatest cult movies ever, although it isnt rated like that - yet.Put your brains on the table and enjoy.Joe Don Baker - I salute you.