ComedyHorror

Popcorn

- Buy a bag... Go home in a box.

While holding a horror film festival, a group of film students find themselves stalked by a madman who may have a sinister connection to a cult leader.

Release Date : 1991-02-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Movie PartnersTrans-Atlantic Pictures

Production Country : CanadaUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Maggie

Original Name : Jill Schoelen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Toby

Original Name : Tom Villard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Suzanne

Original Name : Dee Wallace

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mark

Original Name : Derek Rydall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cheryl

Original Name : Kelly Jo Minter

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bud

Original Name : Malcolm Danare

Gender : Male

Character Name : Leon

Original Name : Elliott Hurst

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joannie

Original Name : Ivette Soler

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tina

Original Name : Freddie Simpson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Joy

Original Name : Karen Lorre

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Mnesyne

Original Name : Ray Walston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Davis

Original Name : Tony Roberts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Two-Headed Guy

Original Name : Ethan Ormsby

Gender : Male

Character Name : Landlord / Warden

Original Name : Will Knickerbocker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hatchethead

Original Name : Ben Stotes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Radio Announcer

Original Name : Ken Ryan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lanyard Gates

Original Name : Matt Falls

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gloria Gates

Original Name : Cindy Breakspeare

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sarah Gates

Original Name : Giana Hanly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. Bradley

Original Name : Barry Jenner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Latimer

Original Name : Suzanne Hunt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Skeeter

Original Name : Robert Dickman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Corky

Original Name : Thom Adcox-Hernandez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vernon

Original Name : Bruce Glover

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy Friend

Original Name : Ed Amatrudo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Munair Zacca

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge

Original Name : Bobby Ghisays

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marge

Original Name : Lori Creevay

Gender : Male

Character Name : 1st Hood

Original Name : George Ortuzar

Gender : Male

Character Name : 2nd Hood

Original Name : Nico Bernuth

Gender : Male

Character Name : 3rd Hood

Original Name : Rohan Henry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lab Technician

Original Name : Maki Fame

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lab Technician

Original Name : Kimio Satoh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miner #1

Original Name : Fumito Naozaki

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miner #2

Original Name : Hikonori Washima

Gender : Male

Character Name : Student in Theatre

Original Name : Adam Ornsby

Gender : Male

Character Name : Student in Theatre

Original Name : April Harris

Gender : Female

Character Name : Student in Theatre

Original Name : Ray Garaza

Gender : Male

Character Name : Student in Theatre

Original Name : Mike Stephens

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2023-04-23

**_Good first hour; dull close_** To raise funds, several film students & their teacher in SoCal hold a one-night horror marathon at an old theater set to be demolished. Unfortunately for them, a supposedly dead filmmaker who doesn’t like criticism is apparently in attendance. "Popcorn” (1991) has everything going for it, highlighted by the old downtown theater, a plot that meshes “Phantom of the Opera” with “The Abominable Dr. Phibes,” a colorful tone and an homage to William Castle. The latter was known for creating gimmicks to draw people to his low-budget B movies (e.g. “The Tingler”) at a time when television tempted people to stay home. I particularly enjoyed the setting of the aged theater since I used to work at one in downtown for seven years. Alan Ormsby directed the fake old movies in B&W, such as “Mosquito” and “The Amazing electrified Man,” and did a convincing job, not to mention amusing, but he was so detail-oriented that he was replaced by Mark Herrier for the main story. The female cast is quite good with Jill Schoelen (Maggie), Ivette Soler (Joanie), Suzanne Hunt (Dr. Latimer), Kelly Jo Minter (Cheryl), Freddie Marie Simpson (Tina), Karen Witter (Joy) and Dee Wallace (Suzanne). Regrettably, Herrier & team didn’t seem to know how to shoot women (not talkin’ ’bout nudity or sleaze). Amy O'Neill originally played the character played by Jill Schoelen, but was replaced after three weeks of shooting. As a result, Jill didn’t have much interaction with the rest of the cast since many of her scenes were simple reshoots. Surprisingly, the flick started to put me to sleep after the first hour when the story became unnecessarily convoluted, which might explain why “Popcorn” flopped at the box office. Still, there’s enough good here for those interested and explains why it eventually become a cult thang. For a superior movie of this ilk, check out “StageFright” (1987) or even "Curtains" (1983). Going back to an earlier era, there’s Christopher Lee’s well-done (and unjustly obscure) "Theatre of Death" (1967). The film runs 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was mostly shot at The Ward Theatre in Kingston, Jamaica (of all places), with pick-up shots done in Toronto. GRADE: C+