Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Dr. Giggles Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 4, 2023

Universal Studios was in a strange place in the early 1990s. The studio was producing and distributing a wildly diverse slate of features, mostly aiming for singles and doubles with one-weekend wonders to maintain profitability, often turning to horror to conquer the box office, making money with “Child’s Play” sequels and kooky efforts, such as “The People Under the Stairs.” But genre entertainment was facing a downturn in popularity, facing an oversaturated marketplace and a lack of bright ideas. Enter “Dr. Giggles,” with co-writer/director Manny Coto (“Star Kid”) aiming to create a new Universal Monster in the form of a madman posing as a medical professional, working to eliminate residents of a small town using various tools of the trade. His trademark? A laugh, of course. There’s not a lot to “Dr. Giggles” beyond its premise, forcing Coto to jazz up the work with style and bloodshed, also making a decision to go camp with the picture, which wears out its welcome in a hurry

As a child, Evan Jr. (Larry Drake) adored his father, hoping to become a physician like his dad one day. Such dreams were cut short, as Evan Sr. went insane trying to make sense of his wife’s death, embarking on a killing spree, taking human hearts as prizes. Decades later, Evan Jr. has escaped from a mental health facility, returning to the town of Moorehigh, ready to open a practice of his own, targeting members of the community who bother him or get in his way, looking to reconnect with the memory of his parent. Jennifer (Holly Marie Combs) is a teenager with a heart problem, fearful of visiting the hospital for a surgery she needs, trying to take her mind off her anxiety with help from boyfriend Max (Glenn Quinn). Unfortunately for Jennifer, Evan Jr. is looking to help, with the ghoul hunting for the girl, eager to perform surgery on her.

Co-written by Coto and Graeme Whifler, “Dr. Giggles” is a fairly straightforward slasher film with a distinct villain. Evan Jr. is out of his mind, with his hospital break-out serving as a character introduction. He’s a monster, happy to destroy anyone who gets in his way, using his medical observations to guide his bodily harm, and he’s also fully loaded when it comes to wordplay and one-liners, maintaining a dark sense of humor to trigger his high-pitched laugh. Horror doesn’t exactly have a new threat in Evan Jr., but he’s a memorable addition to the line-up of big screen villains, with Drake doing as well as possible with a bizarre role, making for an interesting figure of malicious malpractice.

“Dr. Giggles” is sure to keep Evan Jr. front and center, with the rest of the endeavor a droopy collection of formulaic writing. Jennifer is a sullen teen dealing with father issues (he’s remarried, choosing a young wife after the death of his old one), while boyfriend Max isn’t exactly a trustworthy type, with the boy enjoying attention from other classmates. Friends are all standard issue slasher bait, including a “dude” type hunting for a sexual experience, finding Evan Jr. in his bed instead. Cops are on the case, always one step behind the murders, with a new hire (Keith Diamond) gradually understanding the threat in play. Storytelling isn’t sharp, with much of “Dr. Giggles” going through the motions, only perking up when Evan Jr. arrives to dispatch innocents with a variety of medical instrument-inspired moves, including the pushing of a large thermometer through one victim’s head, while another is strangled by a blood pressure arm cuff. Coto cooks up gruesome imagery (eventually neutered by MPA objections before release), which helps the cause, adding some much-needed extremity to an endeavor that’s not trying hard enough to shake cliché, especially when it has such a bizarre killer.

Dr. Giggles Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Press materials list the AVC encoded image (2.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation as a "new 2K restoration of the film from an interpositive." "Dr. Giggles" last appeared on Blu-ray in 2010 (with an incorrect aspect ratio), with Shout Factory trying to inspire sales in 2023, giving fans a more cinematic viewing experience for the slasher movie. Detail reaches about as far as possible, offering a softer sense of skin particulars and gore zone events, surveying varied ages and makeup efforts. Exteriors are reasonably dimensional, and interiors preserve most decorative additions and strange environments. Colors are appealing, with crisper whites and greens on medical uniforms, while period clothing provides brighter primaries. Greenery is distinct. Red blood is vivid. Delineation is acceptable, preserving shadowy events. Source is in good condition.

Dr. Giggles Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a clear understanding of dialogue exchanges, handling scenes of panic without reaching distortive extremes. Scoring is pronounced throughout, with sharp instrumentation and suspenseful support. Sound effects are crisp, with some mild channel movement to keep things interesting. Atmospherics are appreciable.

Dr. Giggles Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Laughter is the Best Medicine" (25:54, HD) is a dual interview with actor Larry Drake (appearing here in an older clip) and co-writer/director Manny Coto, who tracks career origins, dealing with various B-movies and an episode of "Tales from the Crypt," which got him attention. Drawn to a script titled "Mr. Giggles," Coto found potential in the work, using his father's career in medicine to inspire his take on the project. A lover of horror, Coto was ready for the job, going through casting choices, focusing on Drake for the part, while the studio pushed for Matt Frewer. Technical credits are celebrated, including vivid work in the special effects makeup department. Aiming for a comic book tone, Coto explores his influences and his personal triumphs with the endeavor. Coto celebrates the various kills in the picture, which led to trouble with the MPA, leaving the helmer a bit perplexed when it came to cutting some of the violence. Coto and Drake both close with their fondness for the feature, with the director still a bit disappointed "Dr. Giggles" didn't do much business in 1992.

• "Melodies of Madness" (17:02, HD) is an appreciation piece from film music historian Randall B. Larson, who discusses Brian May's work in "Dr. Giggles."

• Vintage Featurette (4:34, SD) is a 1992 look at the making of "Dr. Giggles," features interviews with cast and crew, along with some BTS footage.

• T.V. Spots (1:40, SD) offers two commercials and one pay television ad for "Dr. Giggles."

• Two VHS Teasers (1:04, SD) and Three Trailers (5:08, SD) are included.

Dr. Giggles Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you squint hard enough, there's a little De Palma-esque energy in "Dr. Giggles," with Coto trying to squeeze in some cinematic style, while composer Brian May treats the scoring assignment with complete sincerity, adding some orchestral heft to the proceedings. These lifts of widescreen spirit are most welcome, but the picture loses its nerve quickly, with Coto preferring to make a comedy instead of a thriller, increasing Evan Jr.'s silliness as the tale reaches its overlong conclusion. Perhaps "Dr. Giggles" might've failed as a straight horror show, but there are parts of the final cut that hint otherwise, with lunges into self-aware silliness doing tremendous damage to the viewing experience.