Reviewed by Adam Stephen Kelly
Stars Steve Howey, Diora Baird, Kenan Thompson, Desi Lydic, Leslie Nielsen | Written by Bo Zenga
UK certification 15 | UK RRP £15.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 87 minutes | Directed by Bo Zenga
Never trust a man named Bo Zenga. To make a good film. Not after a directorial debut like this. From one of the Executive Producers of Scary Movie (that really takes the piss) comes Stan Helsing, another dumb spoof film featuring an insignificant cameo by Leslie Nielsen. What the hell happened, Leslie? You were crowned an icon for your hilarious work in the outstanding Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker films, like The Naked Gun, but now you're pushing 90 and your agent seemingly hates you.
Stan Helsing (Howey) and his three friends, one of whom is played by a Kenan from Kenan and Kel who's tipping the scales a little now, I dare say, head to a party on Halloween night, but not before video rental store employee Stan has to run an errand for his boss. Unfortunately for Stan and co, his target location lurks within an isolated town that has been overrun by the most famous movie monsters of all time. Well, parodies of them, anyway.
Six as lawsuit-avoiding as possible takes on horror legends, Michael Myers; Jason Voorhees; Chucky; Leatherface; Freddy Krueger and Pinhead, rule the town, which used to be a studio where horror films were made, all before a great fire. After discovering Stan, he has to team up with his friends to defeat the monsters and save the locals, who are all pretty much lead by a totally unfunny Leslie Nielsen, in drag, with about five lines.
I laughed about four-and-a-half times. To be honest, “laughed” sounds a little too generous, so call them giggles. Small giggles. Desi Lydic's token dumb blonde is about the only character who was funny to me. Everyone else is totally obsolete and have no redeeming qualities about them that warrant them starring in a film that is supposed to be loaded with laughs. The same can be said for the script. I'd feel embarrassed for the writer/director if he wasn't the one solely responsible for such a comedy abomination.
EXTRAS ** 10-minute making of feature, six extended, deleted and alternate scenes, outtakes, storyboard and stills gallery, and the trailer.