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Spookies is 1986 independent horror film. Remembered for its copious creature effects, its patchwork editing, and for boasting an effective soundtrack, Spookies was given a limited theatrical release in 1986 and a more widespread video release in 1987. It was shown on cable television's USA Network multiple times between 1988-1991. To date this film has not been released on DVD in the United States.

Synopsis

A 13-year-old boy named Billy runs from home as his parents forget his birthday. Making his way through thick woods, he encounters a drifter who is violently slashed to death after Billy leaves. Billy stumbles on an old mansion where a room is decorated for birthday celebrations. Thinking it is a surprise by his parents, he opens a present to discover a severed head. Running away, he is attacked by the drifter's killer, a cat-like human with a hook on one hand, and subsequently buried alive.

Meanwhile, a group of teenagers and some older adults come across the mansion intending to have a party, believing the mansion to be abandoned. However, a sorcerer named Kreon has managed to preserve his bride for over 70 years using an unrevealed method; however, it is known that he needs human victims in order to do it. He then possesses one of the group into using a Ouija board and summoning a variety of monsters to pick off the group one by one. These include farting mud-men, small reptilian demons, giant spiders, an arachnid woman, an octopus-like creature with electric tentacles, a skeletal witch, a Grim Reaper statue, a vampiric boy in a monk's habit, and a large group of zombies.

Eventually, the entire group is killed by the monsters and Kreon hopes to preserve his bride for longer, but she escapes by killing him and trying to outrun the zombie horde around the mansion. The bride eventually is saved by a man who drives her away in his car. Kreon regenerates out of a coffin as it is revealed the man in the car is actually the cat-like creature with the hook hand. The camera pans on Kreon's laughing face and the credits roll.

Production

Spookies started out as a feature film entitled Twisted Souls. The film started shooting in late summer of 1984 and finished principal photography in October of that same year. It was directed by Brendan Faulkner and Thomas Doran, and produced by Brendan Faulkner, Thomas Doran and Frank Farel. The film "Twisted Souls" was being edited when creative and legal issues between the producers and the financial backer prevented final post production work from being carried out (final editing, scoring, post-effects, etc.).

The original Twisted Souls footage directed by Faulkner and Doran consists of the all the "teenagers" who arrive in the two cars and all the related monsters: Demon/Ouija Girl; Muck Men; Spider Woman; Snake Demons; Hallway Demon; Grim Reaper; and all related effects.

In 1985 the financial backer of Twisted Souls hired Eugenie Joseph to direct more footage which were pieced together with the footage from Twisted Souls, creating Spookies. The added footage by Josephs, with an entirely different cast, includes all the footage with the boy looking for his birthday party; man in tree; Cat-man; old, withered magician; girl in coffin; zombies; witch in basement/cave; and the little blue boy.

Cast and crew

The creature effects were created by Gabe Bartalos, Arnold Gargulio, Jennifer Aspinal, John Dods, and others helping in various capacities.

External links

• Spookies at the Internet Movie Database