This “horror” film would have been better off as part of our kids’ horror movie theme months. Nevertheless, we both held curiously fond memories about the inaugural episode of this long-lasting series of films. Starring Warwick Davis, Leprechaun went to some crazy places – Vegas, The Hood (twice) and even outer space. We decided we’d start tackling this franchise by starting with the first, starring a fresh-faced Jennifer Aniston in her first film role, just a year before Friends.
It was this movie – 1976’s The Omen – that brought him out of TV directing and into a wildly successful career in feature films. A solid entry into the “satanic cult craze” of late 70’s horror (which started with The Exorcist), it features a practically-out-of-retirement Gregory Peck as the stepfather of the antichrist.
If you learn nothing else about Witchtrap, you must know this: It is NOT a sequel to Witchboard! It just has the same writer, director, actors, poster art, and villain character design. It’s super-dumb, but its saving grace is that it also has: Linnea Quigley! Enjoy the episode, you chuckleheads.
Is it horror? Well, the R-rated “gore version” certainly is, and that’s naturally the version we reviewed. But it’s also a self-aware screwball comedy that is dated as hell in the most lovely way possible. Have a listen and see if you can log into Shudder or some other streaming service to watch this jaw-droppingly fun film. Then come back here and revisit it with us.
