‘Frightmare’ aka ‘Horror Star’ (1983) - Norman Thaddeus Vane.

While a generic, gratuitously blood-lashed, lasciviously top-popping slasher can, on occasion, deliver a little bit of what you fancy, it is certainly no less joyous to discover unconventional horror films that take far greater risks with the material. The sardonic slasher classic 'Frightmare' digs somewhat deeper into the marvellously macabre bag of Gothic horror tropes and rewardingly unearths far less predictable results! 

Ably written and directed by, Norman Thaddeus Vane, ‘Horror Star’ ‘Frightmare’ aka ‘Horror Star’ remains a compelling, enjoyably flamboyant Grand guignol gem. Utilizing a theatrical plot not entirely dissimilar to ‘Theatre of Blood’ or ‘The House That Dripped Blood’, this full-blooded shocker features an arrogantly twist-headed horror star taking their day job a little too seriously! In lieu of Lee or Price, ‘Frightmare’ stars urbane, Ferdy Mayne, who, entirely to his credit, imbues the washed-up horror ham with all the requisite lip-smacking, overcooked glee the barnstorming role demands!

An ill-considered Weekend at Bernies-style prank by boozy members of a collegiate horror society proves fatal. They ‘borrow’ the recently interred remains of, Conrad Ragzof (Ferdy Mayne) for their increasingly macabre soirée. Not long after they have brought the unlovely corpse of this once venerated actor back to their Adams Family-style mansion/clubhouse, the diabolical repercussions of their morbidly disrespectful jape began in earnest! On that very same fateful night, monstrously awakened by demonic forces arcane, the devil-possessed, supernaturally endowed Thespian zealously proceeds to chew up more than the scenery! The vengeful, Ragzof luridly dispatching the beleaguered members of ‘The Horror Film Society’ with theatrically grisly aplomb! 

There is a wonderfully visceral pleasure a witnessing wickedly unrestrained, Ferdy Mayne gleefully Todd Slaughtering his sadistic way through the shadowy, cobwebbed confines of his immaculately spooky domain. The much neglected ‘Horror Star’ aka ‘Frightmare’ remains a high camp, eminently entertaining, readily rewatchable, old school 80s spook show!