Popcorn

The plot of this film has a madmen loose in a theater thats showing an all night marathon of gimmick B-movies from the 1950's and 60's. The screening is a benefit for the local film school and the killer has a beef with the organizers. This film is a loving tribute to the movie gimmicks of old. If you remember Percepto, Ermego, 3-D, Smell-o-vision or the movies that were shown with them then this is for you. If you don't remember them then remove a point or two from the 8 out of 10 rating. None of the films we see on screen are real, however the type of film is perfectly recreated to the point that the mini movies are better than the film that contains them. That said its a very good, otherwise unremarkable thriller that does have its moments. One of the weaknesses is the lead, Jill Schoelen, who plays Maggie. She isn't a very good actress and she is the weakest link in another wise good cast. (Personally I've never understood why she got to star in as many early 1990's films as she did since none ever really did well and few were any good. But thats a personal taste)

Popcorn (1991) Jill Schoelen, Tom Villard, Dee Wallace Stone, Derek Rydall, Malcolm Danare, Elliot Hurst, Ivette Solver, Freddie Simpson, Kelly Jo Minter, D: Mark Herrier. California student Schoelen has dreams that are unknowingly shown on a horror movie, and soon a psycho wearing human flesh starts offing her fellow group of film students putting on a film festival at an old movie house. Herrier had some fun with this little horror-comedy that's a must for genre devotees, but the execution is poorly routine. Owns every horror factor, including horror-movie vet Stone, except the promotional gimmick (i.e.: Aroma-o-rama, 3-D, or Shock-o-vision). Running Time: 92 minutes and rated R for horror violence and some language. ** ½

1991: The slasher boom of the early eighties has already dried out and the only things that were left from that era are tired unoriginal sequels of franchises and low-budget horror b-movies that have rip-off the formula of famous slasher franchises... Popcorn popped out during 1991 and was yet another slasher b-movie...NO!!!Popcorn may be a cheesy slasher film without budget but is very original and is the movie that ends the era of slasher films.A comedy/parody/horror slasher hybrid,unique in its own way,Popcorn satirizes the horror industry itself and the horror audience of the time that want more senseless blood and gore. The plot centers upon Maggie who is being stalked in her dreams. She's part of a film school crew that stage a horror movie festival. The killer stalks her in the movies(Not very original).Instead of the gore or the antagonist,Popcorn's selling point was its satire, pop culture references and genre deconstruction and the makers of Scream were all aware of that,using these elements as the principal idea of their big budget film.Also if you remember Ghostface has an electronically altered voice used for the signature prank calls of Scream.The same method that was FIRST used by Popcorn killer doesn't feature as heavily as it does in Scream but it is significant.May Scream be a rip-off of Popcorn? The bad thing of this movie is the plot.When it starts as something unoriginal and predictable,in the middle it changes to a brilliant suspenseful film and at some point towards the end it is suddenly fallen apart.What a waste...Yeah it is a forgotten movie and it will continue to be but it may deserve better luck.May the false advertising as a standard slasher film or the changes and the replacement of director and female lead be the cause of the failure of this good movie???I don t know and no one does but it sure deserves credits for the creation of a franchise that would change the luck of the slasher films in the following years called Scream...

This is one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. It has a great story line. It also has great acting. It is scarier then A Nightmare on elm street. It is scarier then Friday the 13th. It also scarier then Halloween. It is one of the best movies ever. It is shame it very had sequels.

This actually was kind of a fun horror flick, as the Scream movies were. The best part in my opinion is the movies-within-a-movie the characters show at their sci-fi festival ... cheesy 50s stuff similar to what was done in Matinee.

I love Popcorn. The movie is very funny as well as scary, in a way. I mean, movies don't ever really scare me, but there are some moments in this movie, especially when the aunt is alone in the theatre at the beginning, where you jump and your heart races. I have seen the movie a hundred million times, and I still love it. I have wanted to be a filmmaker and a film student for some time, and this is the kind of stuff I would love to do....without the murder and all!! I mean, the classic movie theatre with the huge balcony and the old fashioned props everywhere...it's cool. Even if it is somewhat fake and childish in some parts, the movie overall is really good. Even tho it might look lame, check it out, you'll be surprised.

Beautifully made, witty, knowing, scary with a great soul and visual panache. I absolutely loved it. Watched it with my husband, who was a late comer to it's brilliance, but he was in its thrall from the very beginning. I truly is a terrific piece of cinema. Check it out! You will be delighted and second time around, it was even better. The acting, script and direction are all top notch. It is a sadly under-rated classic. Smoking. Brian

The only reason to see this movie is for a brilliant performance by Thom-Adcox Hernandez who is underused in the movie within the movie. As usual Tom Villard is good, too. Otherwise it's c**p. The possesor doesn't even exist how does he magically change the letters on the theatre marquee to spell out "The Possessor"? Lame.

I've seen worse horror films, (every sequel of Friday 13th & Halloween.) Paid a lot of respect to the pioneers of the 50's horror. I think Wlliam Castle would have loved it. I think the fake movie (Mosquito, Stench) titles that were mentioned in Popcorn could have been made, sounds like some of the movies made in the 50's. Think about the movies made in the 50's: "The Blob, Deadly Mantis, Earth vs. the Spider, The H-Man". William Castle or American International would had done them. I think the movie is under rated.

i remember seeing popcorn for the first time , it was the most fun i ever had at the movies growing up. sure the story is kinda cheesy and so are a few of the actors but horror movies for the most part are meant for enjoyment not Oscars so as long as you don't try to compare popcorn to saving private ryan this movie is great. go rent it . you will have fun for sure guaranteed. i met jill schoelen when she was filming when a stranger calls back , she is so nice! she signed two movie stills and a popcorn crew shirt for me and my sister. she rocks. if you like movies like popcorn then i would like to offer you these titles as choices for your renting needs.... the gate part 1,the fog, the thing,student bodies, wishmaster (part 1 only, the rest suck), and child's play. a couple of titles that are lesser known are spliced (aka: the wisher), cherry falls, my bloody valentine and black Christmas. beware of black Christmas (the language is quite bad lol) i hope you enjoy these titles and i wish you all well. if anyone cares my fave horror movie of all time is of course HALLOWEEN because lets face it everyone is afraid of the boogeyman right? and we all know that you can't kill the boogeyman. moooohaha! (jason and freddy are lucky they had each other to fight instead of michael.