Spookies
Encyclopedia
Spookies is a 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 1987-88 and a more widespread video release in 1988
. 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
.
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 resides there, keeping watch over his bride who he has kept preserved for over 70 years using an unrevealed method, but it is known that he needs human victims in order to do it. He possesses one of teenagers in the group to use a Ouija
board and summons 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.
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 Joseph's, 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.
, and others helping in various capacities.
by Sony Video Software Company in January 1987. It grossed $17,785 at the box office. It was also released theatrically in Hong Kong.
The film was released on VHS
by Sony Video
, but has since gone out of print. A bootleg DVD has been known to exist. As of March 27, 2011, there are currently no plans for a legitimate DVD release.
1986 in film
-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
. Remembered for its copious creature effects, its patchwork editing
Film editing
Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling...
, and for boasting an effective soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
, Spookies was given a limited theatrical release
Limited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
in 1987-88 and a more widespread video release in 1988
1988 in film
-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:* Act of Piracy* Action Jackson, starring Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone* The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* Akira* Alice...
. It was shown on cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
's USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
multiple times between 1988-1991. To date this film has not been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
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 resides there, keeping watch over his bride who he has kept preserved for over 70 years using an unrevealed method, but it is known that he needs human victims in order to do it. He possesses one of teenagers in the group to use a Ouija
Ouija
The Ouija board also known as a spirit/fire key board or talking board, is a flat board marked with the letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0-9, the words "yes", "no", "hello" and "goodbye", and other symbols and words are sometimes also added to help personalize the board...
board and summons 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 Joseph's, 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 DodsJohn Dods
John Bruce Dods is a filmmaker, make-up artist and specialist in prosthetic make-up effects for movies and the stage...
, and others helping in various capacities.
Release
The film was given a limited theatrical release in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Sony Video Software Company in January 1987. It grossed $17,785 at the box office. It was also released theatrically in Hong Kong.
The film was released on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
by Sony Video
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation. It was established in November 1979 as Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, releasing 20 titles: The Anderson Tapes, Bell, Book and Candle, Born Free, Breakout,...
, but has since gone out of print. A bootleg DVD has been known to exist. As of March 27, 2011, there are currently no plans for a legitimate DVD release.