Ghoul Mourning , Maniacs !! Happy HorrorDays!
It was a dark and rainy night… No, seriously! It was a dark and rainy night, ( 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit, with rain) when Troma invaded our city to screen Return to Nuke ‘ Em High Vol.1 , at the Buffalo Dreams Film Fest. The screening was an opportunity for the locals to see how we spent our summer of 2012.
Lloyd Kaufman and some Troma folks were there. Heck, even Toxie made it – to spread the notion of art , the spirit of independent cinema , and giving back . The screening raised money for the Niagara Falls Arts Center , where a large portion of the filming took place .
As we arrived, the parking lot was full of punkers, a large number of them traveled from NYC, in a decommissioned, Troma school bus. I can only imagine how hilarious that road trip must have been! Looking through the crowd, I saw so many fellow Buffalo/Tromaville citizens. Everyone of them, eager to see the film.
The theater used to be called “The Amherst” and always showed art house styled cinema. So, it was an appropriate place. I remember seeing Until the End of the World, Henry & June, Mediterraneo, M. Butterfly, and others there. Plus, they were the only theater to show Rocky Horror Picture Show religiously, every weekend at midnight. Oh, I’ve done a few time warps, there.
I know, I know- how was the film? I’m not giving away any plot points or spoilers, so let me say that the film was hysterical! Layered gags, both visual and audio oriented, were in nearly every scene. Throwaway gags, one liners, callbacks, etc. I have to give kudos to the writing team. That’s not me cheer leading, either. I’d like to think I have an eye/ear for comedy at various levels. Return to Nuke ‘Em High hit every one, and then some! It pushed some buttons and perimeters, for some, but, that’s what comedy is supposed to do.
There were a lot of cameos, like Stan Lee, Lemmy- from Motörhead, Judah Friedlander, the folks from Oddities, etc. Also- Troma’s Debbie Rochon, Zac Amico, Ron McKay and others brought their radiated best to the screen.
After the film, there was a Q and A session, with Lloyd and Pat Kaufman, Tim Clark – the region’s film commissioner, and some folks from the Niagara Arts Center. Lloyd read off a list of names, as an extra thank you for the efforts. Greg Hinaman, from the charity organization Terror Technologies, filmmaker Sam Qualiana, among others, plus myself were named. I didn’t expect that. Heck, I didn’t hear it- I was taking to someone, and my daughter told me they called my name, so stand up! It made her proud. Not proud enough to do the dishes. But, still proud.
Afterwards, there was a party at Broadway Joe’s, a college bar. Zac Amico acted as host/emcee and did a bang up job! There was burlesque dancing from Steph- from Rigor Mortis Revue, Cat-from the Zombettes, plus an acoustic set by Mark ToxicLife, and our own home grown Arlowe Price providing a sideshow, with staples, flesh, nails, swords and more!
So Maniacs, if Troma rolls into your city and you can go to their screenings, do so! Return to Nuke ‘Em High Vol.1, offers a great mix of gore, horror, comedy and babes. I think you’ll walk away, eagerly waiting for Volume 2.
That’s it for right now. See you soon! OuijaBoardWishesCadaverDreams!
Monstermatt Patterson
Author of Ha-Ha! Horror
