Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

HauntedWeen Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 9, 2024

1991’s “HauntedWeen” is a riff on 1978’s “Halloween,” following writer/director Doug Robertson and his effort to play around with genre events and frat house goofballery for what’s essentially a comedy with moments of violence. Tonally, the endeavor is all over the place, but Robertson has clear enthusiasm for the job, working to establish happenings at a Kentucky fraternity and a developing nightmare occurring at an old haunted house. It’s slasher entertainment, one with some extremity at times, and there’s a fun factor with the low-budget picture, which attempts to maintain a party atmosphere, keeping the feature approachable. It’s not sharp work from Robertson, but “HauntedWeen” is engaging for B-movie entertainment.

20 years ago, young Eddie Burber (Craig Bitterling), while working his family’s haunted house, snapped while wearing a Halloween mask, killing an innocent girl inside the attraction. Now Eddie is older, losing his mother to a heart attack, which allows him to be unleashed once again on the public. Times are tough for the Sigma Phi frat house, with president Kurt (Brien Blakely) facing a 30 day countdown to pay past dues, forcing him to dream up an event to save the organization. He’s offered hope when a stranger provides use of The Burber House to stage a haunted house fundraiser, accepting the gift, which brings the college students together on a mission to clean up the place. As the House of Horror opens for business, Eddie has something else in mind for the customers, using his knowledge of the dwelling to help create the ultimate haunt.

“HauntedWeen” establishes Eddie’s threat with the murder of Katie, a young girl separated from her mother in the haunted house. It’s a grim encounter, and a bold choice for Robertson to start something silly with a scene of severity, killing a kid before the laughs arrive. It’s certainly one way to detail the birth of Eddie’s madness, but the character doesn’t really return in full until the final act, leaving the rest of “HauntedWeen” to the bros of Sigma Phi and their shenanigans. They love beer, women, making fun of one another, and forgetting basic financial realities.

“HauntedWeen” hopes to get a little “Animal House”-y with the endeavor, focusing on Kurt’s leadership, where he’s in charge of keeping the celebratory mood going at all times, joined by Hanks (Brad Hanks), his right-hand man. Hanks is a real character in the feature, taking command of comedy moments with his broad personality and thick Kentucky accent. Robertson keeps the movie light with several party sequences, with beer flowing and bands performing, frequently exploring rooms to see what the characters are up to. There’s a slightly more intimate side to “HauntedWeen” in Kurt’s relationship with Melanie (Blake Pickett), with their troubled interactions and communication issues periodically returned to. It’s not interesting, but it’s an attempt to do something more than horse around with mildly abrasive personalities.

The haunted house story of “HauntedWeen” doesn’t even arrive until midway through the film, which is an odd storytelling choice from Robertson. The movie finds its footing in the second half, exploring clean-up efforts and opening night for the haunt, with Eddie returning to fill up “The Kill Room” presentation, blurring the line of reality for customers looking for a proper bloodbath. Slasher showmanship comes into play, and while Eddie seems to have superhuman strength, his design of torment has its genre appeal.

HauntedWeen Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "HauntedWeen" is listed as "newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 16mm original camera negative." Detail is generally good, reaching as far as possible to deliver textured skin particulars and rubbery mask features. Costuming is fibrous, and gory events are defined. House interiors explore horror scenes with clarity and dimension. Exterior action around lakes and buildings is deep. Color is rich, with a full sense of primaries on style choices of the day and signage. Blood reds are distinct, along with greenery. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition.

HauntedWeen Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers crisp dialogue exchanges, balancing rowdy horseplay and horror escalation with quieter moments between Kurt and Melanie. Moments of panic don't slide into distortive extremes. Synth scoring retains clarity and support, and soundtrack selections are defined, with sharp vocals. Sound effects are appreciable.

HauntedWeen Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features The Hysteria Continues.

• "HauntedWeen" (85:10, SD) is a re-edited version of the film, prepared for its 20th anniversary DVD release.

• Commentary features director Doug Robertson and producer/cinematographer/editor Cory Lash.

• "Capturing the Horrors" (30:42, HD) is an interview with producer/cinematographer/editor Cory Lash, who was a film student at Penn State University, working his way into a local news station for experience. Meeting writer/director Doug Robertson, Lash was pulled into the production of "HauntedWeen," working with an extremely tight budget that only permitted two takes for the actors, putting pressure on them to perform. Shooting in Kentucky, Lash and Robertson formed a partnership, handling script changes and casting, and technical challenges are identified as the production elected to shoot on film. Locations are recalled, working with older buildings, and the interviewee analyzes tricks and planning used to capture specific shots. Work from special effects artist Dave Snyder is celebrated, and Lash shares a lengthy anecdote about a mishap involving a fiery van.

• "Say Cheese and Die!" (20:22, HD) is an interview with first camera assistant Michael Reff, who managed to make his entrance into moviemaking on "HauntedWeen," joining writer/director Doug Robertson and producer/cinematographer/editor Cory Lash on the production adventure. Reff details his friendship with Robertson, meeting him in college, responding to his "hustler" ways and creative spark. The interviewees the particulars of his position, comfortable working with film, and he shares memories from the shoot and locations, pointing out technical highlights. He also identifies some "danger" involving a flamethrower and a bad angle. Reff shares his initial reaction to the feature and the influence of "HauntedWeen" on his career, building a future for himself in television.

• "All Hallow's Eve" (19:27, HD) is an interview with production assistant Emory Schroeter, who offers memoires and tracks the early career of his brother, writer/director Doug Robertson (who passed away in 2020). After spending a little time in Los Angeles, Robertson returned to his home state of Kentucky ready to begin work on "HauntedWeen." Exploring "the funnest summer job he never got paid for," Schroeter recalls the production experience, which moved quickly around the Bowling Green area, pointing out his participation in front of the camera. Anecdotes are shared about a potential meal time disaster and trouble with an exploding van, and the interviewee displays some merch and t-shirts from the picture.

• Making Of (45:36, SD) is a look at the creation of "HauntedWeen," featuring on-set interviews with cast and crew and BTS footage of the production in motion.

• Image Gallery #1 (6:50) collects BTS snaps.

• Image Gallery #2 (1:39) collects BTS snaps.

• And a Trailer (2:44, HD) is included.

HauntedWeen Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Robertson sticks to what works in "HauntedWeen," which delivers graphic violence, nudity, and characters who aren't terribly missed when they're killed. Perhaps there's an effort to give birth to a new Movie Maniac in Eddie Burber, but "HauntedWeen" doesn't offer a defined threat. It's much better with atmosphere and low-tech production achievements, throwing a semi-effective genre party for horror fanatics.