SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 93:00 Min.
In 2009, writer-director Larry Blamire devised this low-budget, black-and-white parody of haunted house murder-mysteries featuring his unofficial repertory company. Most specifically, Blamire’s spoof homages the horror-comedy silent classic, The Cat and the Canary, and, to a degree, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
One night sometime in the 1930’s, at the secluded Cavender estate, rival journalists “8 O’Clock” Farraday (Roebuck) and Billie Tuesday (Blaire) attend a contentious will reading for the late tycoon, Sinas Cavender. Amidst a nasty overnight storm, multiple uninvited guests claiming to be stranded (conveniently, due to car trouble) quickly show up and attend the will’s reading.
Worst yet, a notorious serial killer is evidently terrorizing the area in search of female victims with a certain first name. It’s revealed that this odd name was once a childhood nickname for one of the household’s residents. Adding to the ‘bone-chilling’ vibe, local legend also has it that the 300-year old ghost of ancestor Sarah Cavender is reputedly set to haunt the estate that very night. Word of an escaped mental patient now on the loose also eventually reaches the attendees.
Once Cavender’s naïve adult ward, Sabasha (Masterson), inherits the bulk of his considerable estate, it appears that she has been targeted for death by someone else in the house. Standing watch over a hysterical Sabasha are Farraday, Tuesday, & bemused taxi driver Happy Codburn (Conroy), who insists on getting his remaining thirty-five cents fee from either his deadbeat fare, Farraday, or anyone else willing to pay it.
Over the course of an ominous night, Sabasha vanishes, as a series of ghoulish homicides ensue. Then again, there’s also the threat of whatever dark secrets are lurking upstairs in the Cavender mansion’s attic.
“Eight O’Clock” Farraday: Daniel Roebuck
Billie Tuesday: Jennifer Blaire
Happy Codburn: Dan Conroy
Burling Famish, Jr.: Brian Howe
Ray Vestinhaus: Larry Blamire
Jack Tugdon: Jim Beaver
Seyton Ethelquake: James Karen
Sabasha Fanmoore: Fay Masterson
Mrs. Cupcupboard the Psychic: Allison Martin
Teak Armbruster: Kevin Quinn
Jeens the Butler: Bruce French
Pristy Famish: Christine Romeo
Jane Hovenham the Maid: Trish Geiger
Inspector Riley: Tom Reese
Archie the Cook: Robert Deveau
Gunny Luckcakes’ Spirit: Marvin Kaplan
Farper Twyly: Mark Redfield
Lord Partfine: Andrew Parks
Mrs. Hausenstout: Betty Garrett
Gorilla: Bob Burns
Thessaly: Susan McConnell
Dr. Van Von Vandervon: H.M. Wynant
Hooded Villain(s): Unrevealed
Notes: Geiger is the film’s co-producer. In terms of real-life family, co-star Jennifer Blaire is Blamire’s spouse while Betty Garrett and Andrew Parks are mother and son.
REVIEW:
Despite its outlandish premise, Dark and Stormy Night is really more amusingly watchable than the hilarious anything-goes farce it ought to have been. In that sense, the film’s ambiance exudes a generally PG-rated stage play. Still, the film’s likable cast is game from start to finish; in particular, Blaire, Howe, Masterson, and Romeo are terrific portraying their roles.
For fans who have enjoyed 1976’s Murder By Death, 1985’s Clue, and/or some adaptation of The Cat and The Canary, they won’t likely be too disappointed.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
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