This week in the crypt we take a look at the new Shudder Exclusive, PSYCHO GOREMAN. You can catch PSYCHO GOREMAN on Shudder beginning Thursday, May 20th!
Steven Kostanski provides a 95 minute wet dream 80’s horror fans had as kids by mixing sci fi, comedy, 80s sitcom dads, and horror to bring PSYCHO GOREMAN to life.
PSYCHO GOREMAN follows siblings Luke (Owen Myre) and Mimi (Nita-Josee Hanna) as they unearth an amulet that brings PG to life and they use him to do their bidding.
The film starts out with the feeling of an Adult Swim parody ad as we see Mimi and Luke playing “crazy ball”, the loser of course has to dig their own grave. This leads to the discovery of the amulet.
As they’re called in for bed viewers meet their 80’s sitcom style parents Susan (Alexis Kara Hancey) and Greg (Adam Brooks). Greg is kind of a doofus but he’s there for laughs and it works. Mimi & Luke both ask if monsters are real, the parents shrug it off as a phase, but little do they know what their children have unleashed on Earth.
Since we like to avoid spoilers we’ll jump right to what we liked about this film. Cutting my teeth on 80s horror… the practical effects! Anytime practical effects are used gains points in my book as CGI seems to look out of place within a few months, practical effects still stand the test of time. The acting, Mimi is awful and she’s supposed to be. While feeling like GWAR meets Voltron/Power Rangers it doesn’t feel like a rip off, but more inspired by. Also having quotable lines adds to the appeal to fans.
Where it fell a little short was the 2nd half it seemed a little unevenly paced which took me out of it at times, but didn’t ruin the film. It just felt too long at times, would it work better if 15 minutes were cut, sure. At the end of the day this is fun and not to be taken seriously and that’s what gives this a rewatchability that most newer genre films lack.
Pair this with Adult Swim’s Every 90’s Commercial Ever and Gwar’s Phallus In Wonderland or Skulhedface to have a grossout alien evening by the fire.
Adam Holtzapfel is the face behind Reviews From The Crypt and Interviews From The Crypt. Growing up in the 80s on a steady diet of VHS horror, he has maintained a love of the genre since. Loving almost everything from the good, the bad, and the weird he now searches the deepest realm of the Roku to press play on any film he hasn’t watched a million times.