It follows the Hammer formula basically to the tee, with a little dose of 1950's urban legend and some good-old, early '80's punk rock culture thrown-in for spice. It is not an "update" but a rehash, especially so soon after the original Hammer Dracula films were made, but at least it's an effective one. It also owes a big tip of the hat to Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, but only for its "not a vampire" premise. Regardless, it is a traditional horror morality tale in leg warmers and jean jackets, told under neon lights.
The lush sets, wardrobing, and excellent acting keep you engaged despite the fact that it telegraphs its every move -- all of which you've seen before. The imagery is deep, vibrant, and iconographic, but there is no mistaking Frightmare's true nature-- you've seen this done before, and you've seen it done better. You've seen it done by Hammer (several times over, in fact).
Frightmare, and several movies like it, actually built Tromaville and put Toxie and his classmates through school. By 1984-85, Lloyd Kaufman had found the Troma template and I don't think he ever looked back, but Troma's early years were a careful mix of trashy, over-the-top gorefests and more traditional fare. Someone once told someone else, who told some reporter for some magazine or something, 'You make one movie for the money you need to make the movie you want to do,' (close enough!) and I believe that was Kaufman's vision for Troma from Jumpstreet.
Frightmare may be a schlocker, but it really is a decent flick that, while it owes literally everything to Hammer, shows that there are some solid, spooky players roaming Tromaville's city streets.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
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