It wasn't until recently that I discovered Neon Maniacs and rediscovered that it was, in fact, the very film that I had seen all those years ago (instead of Howling VI, which I still haven't seen). Of all the concepts for films and for horror, I haven't ever encountered one quite like Neon Maniacs. At moments it has a GREMLINS or MONSTER SQUAD "horror lite" esthetic. Then later it goes for the throat with some great practical special effects work. There are times when the writing seems a bit off or the acting isn't quite up to snuff, but then a moment later the actors and the narrative turn it around, making the scene feel natural in an awkward teen sorta way.
Then there's the Neon Maniacs themselves, thirteen distinct supernatural killer entities, each seemingly with their own backstories and origins. It's like something out of Japanese mythology or some foreign legend. All in all, these elements make for a surprisingly fun and unique horror experience.
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| All the promotional material says there's only 12 Neon Maniacs but there's actually 13 in the film. And a 14th which is a little imp-like monster. |
THE PLOT
A fisherman coming home late at night stumbles upon an old cow skull lying on the ground. Inside the skull are thirteen bizarre "tarot cards" each with a horrifying figure depicted upon the surface. Immediately a fog rolls in and the terrifying characters upon the cards manifests in the flesh. These thirteen maniacs slaughter the fisherman and make their way into the night where they encounter a group of teens drinking, smoking, and having sex in the park. One by one these monsters kill all of the teens until only one girl, Natalie, remains. She locks herself in a van as the maniacs converge on her. And then, as suddenly as they appeared, they vanish along with the bodies of the victims. Natalie explains what she saw to the police but the maniacs left little to no evidence. The next night the maniacs return, hellbent on slaying the girl who got away.
WHAT I LIKED
13 Undead Horrors. As I mentioned above, one of the aspects I found so intriguing about the film are the titular villains. Their introduction into the film, on what appear to be Tarot Cards hidden inside an animal skull suggests witchcraft. But the maniacs themselves vary from different points in human history, from different parts of the world, and different belief systems, and they range from zombified humans to full blown monsters. They disappear and reappear at random. All this seemed reminiscent of YOKAI MONSTERS from Japanese mythology. Then there's the obvious where certain maniacs are evocative of other horror icons such as Freddy and Jason. So then it gets me thinking that this was perhaps an attempt to do THE EXPENDABLES of horror icons or at least the closest thing to such an idea that we'll ever see.
For a horror fan like myself, watching this film, the Neon Maniacs became irresistibly intriguing and fun.
A Blending of Elements. At first I'm thinking "this is so 80's" in that it had that cocaine inspired mania to the idea (like Mannequin or Better Off Dead, films I wholly enjoy also). It had a kind of Amblin Entertainment feeling going on followed by a Friday The 13th Part VI vibe. Then there are moments of pure reality where the parents of the missing kids call Natalie wanting to know the truth, genuinely hoping for any sign that their children may come home. But then the police in the film comes across as complete jokes and totally inept (it was a treat to see actor Jessie Ferguson in a cameo). So the movie is all over the place, but not as out of hand as I would've expected (rather manic in a delightful Savage Steve Holland sorta way).
NITPICKS
Admittedly this is a flawed movie and pretty easy to tear down. You can either enjoy the completely 80's experience or dismiss the film outright. But maybe this film wasn't intended to be in such a state of disarray...
Victim of Circumstance. During my research I discovered that this film had a "troubled" production. Apparently production stopped and restarted multiple times. There was recasting of characters, budgetary constraints, and script cuts and rewrites. Supposedly the intended ending for the film was never shot. As a result the film just kind of ends with no resolution. When watching it there are certain moments where some of the effects work seems rushed or unfinished. There were probably also numerous cuts made to the film by the MPAA as well, compounding the film's hardships.
These production problems could be the reason for the shifting tone of the film as well. So, while the film has numerous problems I can't really fault the filmmakers as they were just as much victims as the film itself. Even still the movie maintains loads of intrigue and plenty positives to be found and enjoyed. I would love to see someone remake this film in the way it was intended to be made, with a healthy budget and a smooth production.
THE VERDICT
Neon Maniacs stands as an anomaly of a horror film. The titular characters are intriguing and exciting, albeit lacking in areas but suggesting so much food for thought. Feeling a bit unhinged and out of sorts at times, the movie has a decidedly 80's mania to it, which if you're a fan of such films makes for a fun ride. It also appears to be made by fans of horror films with big ideas. As a horror fan you can't help being swept up in the filmmaker's enthusiasm. The Neon Maniacs themselves are wonderful to behold as well as the practical gore effects therein. Even with a troubled production and next to no resources to make the film, director Joseph Mangine still turns out an enjoyable movie.
Overall Ranking: 6 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 1 out of 10
For more 80's horror greatness check out these others below!
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