Nightmare Weekend (1986) How's Your Gag Reflex? September 23, 2024 08:00
Rarely do you come across a movie that is simultaneously terrible and incredibly quirky. Nightmare Weekend is one such gem, and it's important to understand the background of the actors and filmmakers involved in order to fully appreciate its eccentricity.
When reading through the few dozen reviews on IMDb, you'll quickly realize that this film is often considered to be the absolute worst. Even members of the production team seem to share this opinion. To the average viewer, I can see how this conclusion might be reached. Yet, for those of us who are avid fans of low-budget films, Nightmare Weekend doesn't even come close to deserving such harsh criticism. In fact, any film directed by Jim Wynorski, a protege of Roger Corman, would be a better candidate for that title. While it may technically be a "horrible" film, Nightmare Weekend has enough redeeming qualities to make it an enjoyable watch for cult film enthusiasts.
Let's get this out of the way first - the movie is being distributed by Troma Entertainment. If you're familiar with American B-movies, you probably know that Troma is notorious for producing low-quality films. Personally, I'm not a fan of American-made low budget cinema, and I have even less love for Troma. Every time I see their company logo at the beginning of a film, I mentally prepare myself to probably give up halfway through. So if you're in the know, you're likely already lowering your expectations upon this discovery.
Additionally, it should be noted that the director, Henri Sala, had previously only worked on French "adult" films before this, making this his first and only American film outing. According to his credits, it was either his last or second to last film. The fact that the story was written by someone with the last name "Faget" (yes, seriously) adds another layer to why Troma might have been interested in this project, and it's possible they handpicked it themselves. But, considering that the director's background is in French pornography, it's not surprising that his direction, the plot, and the style of the film have a unique depth and explanation, which we'll explore further. In addition, it's worth mentioning that the film itself deserves a bit more respect, as two individuals with no experience in making a scripted film (especially in English) were able to create something that, when looked at objectively, isn't actually that bad, especially when compared to American directors like Wynorski.
Brace yourself for a wild ride as you're introduced to George, a deranged hand puppet from a parallel universe of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. George is part of a security system protecting a house from two late-night burglars attempting to hack into a mysterious mainframe. One burglar meets a gruesome end when he is struck by a metal ball that magically materializes. The house belongs to Edward Brake, a genius scientist who has created a technology that uses swallowed metal balls to tame wild animals. Unbeknownst to Edward, his assistant Julie Clingstone is trying to steal the tech and use it for her own human experiments. Her unsuspecting subjects are three girls she's lured with the promise of a free weekend getaway. One of the girls happens to be a friend of Jessica, Edward's daughter who also comes to visit him on the same weekend. She finds herself entangled with Ken, one of Julie's henchmen, and spends most of the movie trying to decipher her unfamiliar hormonal feelings. Julie's experiments begin causing chaos as she ignores Edward's advice to not exceed 50% on the bio-meter, resulting in the girls turning into wild, uncontrollable beasts.
Despite the questionable logic of Nightmare Weekend, it's impossible to label it as the worst film ever. This is thanks to the collaboration of two quirky French men - one known for directing only French pornography, and the other for writing solely this script (and having the surname "Faget"). Knowledge of this unusual combination adds to the enjoyment of the film, and some of the otherwise bizarre moments might start to make sense. For example, the characters choking down metallic balls the size of S&M ball gags? Perhaps not just a coincidence. And let's not forget the scene where the clueless dude sniffs the girl's underwear and suddenly starts choking on them due to the hidden metal ball inside them that launches down his throat!
There's an abundance of offbeat one-liners that pop up out of nowhere. Julie gives the butler and maid a heads up in anticipation of the three girls' arrival, cautioning the maid to "keep it classy, no alcohol on the breath!" Meanwhile, the butler spends most of the movie chilling in a seedy bar/arcade, sipping from a flask he's "hiding" between two slices of bread. Or we have the maid inquiring about the "boys" and Julie hastily replying "none of your damn business, you may look sweet but you're a freak just like your mama!" And then there's naive Jessica, trying to make sense of her strange feelings. She's torn between laughing and crying, so she confides in her trusty sidekick sock puppet George and realizes she's crushing on Ken.
Sprinkle in some outrageous moments like the "pin-ball panky" scene where Robert John Burke (who would eventually become Robo Cop in Robo Cop III) is getting frisky with his girl at the arcade/bar while they both play pin-ball, all while giving Jessica the eye as she tries to act like she doesn't see them. Or how about the couple having sex in the back seat of a car while the chauffeur struggles to change a flat tire that was purposely slashed by the guy's friend in the parking lot, just so he could get his hands on the bimbo. And then, when "Robo-biker" (Robert John Burke) tries to sexually assault Jessica later in the film, he's taken out by some invisible force controlled by the demented sock puppet George, who keeps an eye on her through some kind of watch or gadget.
While the acting itself was average at best, the group of unknown actors, many of whom never continued their careers, didn't do a terrible job. The casting director succeeded in selecting attractive and natural-looking women, which helped balance out the lacking plot and story-line. One standout was the stunning Pamela (played by Kimberly Stahl) who consistently bared all throughout the film. Another actress who would go on to have a somewhat successful career was Andrea Thompson, who played Linda, one of the three girls on whom Julie conducts her experiments. Andrea also has a risque sex scene in the movie. Fans of Babylon 5 might recognize her as Talia Winters, a role she played in over 40 episodes, and those who enjoy police dramas might know her as Detective Jill Kirkendall, a role she played for over 70 episodes on NYPD Blue.
While Nightmare Weekend may not be considered a good film, it can still provide a fun time for fans of campy late night shlock. Despite the lack of experience among those involved in the production, including a non-American director and writer, learning more about the film's background can enhance the enjoyment and make sense of its eccentric aspects. So, if you're seeking something offbeat with attractive 1980's women who don't hold back, this film deserves a look and should receive more recognition.
6/10
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