Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Pandemonium Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 3, 2020

Film historians often celebrate the rise of fantasy moviemaking in the 1980s, with many productions chasing the success of “Star Wars,” feeding an audience hungry for space opera escapism. Less emphasized is the rise of slasher cinema, thanks to the unexpected domination of “Friday the 13th,” and many producers were also looking to replicate the comedic formula of “Airplane!” Horror and broad comedy were subjected to a mass milking by the industry, with some going a step further and combining the two genres, hoping to appeal to more ticket-buyers. 1981 presented “Saturday the 14th” and “Student Bodies,” and 1982 delivers “Pandemonium,” which offers a take on a serial killer with a taste for young victims, but also includes pie-in-the-face jokes. Screenwriters Jamie Klein and Richard Whitley try to create something of a story to support all the slapstick, but the general velocity of “Pandemonium” is managed by director Alfred Sole (“Alice, Sweet Alice”), and he’s not afraid to try anything for a laugh, hoping the feature will magically fall into place by sheer will alone.

The year is 1963, and in the town of It Had To Be, Indiana, football star Blue (Tab Hunter) has scored his greatest gridiron success, while Bambi (Candace Azzara), who loves him, watches from afar. That night, a mysterious killer begins a rampage involving the murder of cheerleaders, leading to the closing of a local cheerleader camp. In 1982, Bambi decides to reopen the seemingly cursed camp, welcoming a collection of young people ready to learn a few tricks of the trade. Arriving is Candy (Carol Kane), Mandy (Teri Landrum), Randy (Marc McClure), Andy (Miles Chaplin), Sandy (Debralee Scott), and Glenn (Judge Reinhold), with the campers ready to explore the sport and one another as they begin their training. Elsewhere, murderer Jarrett (Richard Romanus) has escaped from prison, and when death returns to the camp, Canadian Mountie Cooper (Tom Smothers) and his horse, Bob, begin their investigation into the crimes.

“Pandemonium” opens in the sixties, establishing Bambi’s unrequited love for football hero Blue, and her rejection from the cheerleaders, wounded by her lack of popularity. Things don’t go well for the cheerleaders, with four teens on the field impaled by a javelin thrown by a gloved killer from inside a locker room. Such a moment is the first sign of wackiness in “Pandemonium,” with Sole following the javelin as it tries to find a way out of a concrete maze before piercing four bodies, which remain connected as they’re hauled away by authorities. Funny? Not really, but Sole isn’t about to throw in the towel at this point.

Character introductions make up most of the first half of “Pandemonium,” which has a lot of people to keep track of for such a minor offering of entertainment. Candy is the “Carrie”-esque young girl with telekinetic powers and a great need to lose her virginity. Mandy is the pageant queen with a fetish for toothpaste. Randy and Andy are hornball frat brothers doing whatever they can to score at the camp. Sandy is a picky hitchhiker and the production’s one shot to include a Ronald Reagan joke about jellybeans. And Glenn is a sheltered young man also ready to pounce on any females coming his way, concentrating on Mandy’s beauty. Bambi also returns, but the writing loses interest in her, squeezing out the personality as overpopulation sets in. Handling police duties is Cooper, who hangs with Bob the horse, sometimes played by a real animal, but often just a cheap- looking puppet. Providing assistance is Johnson (Paul Reubens), who resents Bob, providing the only running gag in the movie that actually works, primarily due to the future Pee-Wee Herman’s enthusiasm for the part.

Humor is a little rough in “Pandemonium.” For example, Glenn’s parents (Kaye Ballard and Donald O’Connor) make a reference to his brother as the black sheep of the family. Sole cuts to black sheep lounging in a doorway. That’s the level of comedy in play here. The feature is very silly and generally interested in doing anything for a laugh, which includes cultural stereotypes (Japanese tourists are all equipped with cameras, and Godzilla serves as an Air Tokyo flight attendant), word play, fart jokes, and the aforementioned pie smash. We watch as Candy and Cooper enjoy a lip- synched musical duet, and the killer stalks victims to the “Jaws” theme. Outright horror parody doesn’t dominate the viewing experience, with Candy’s “Carrie” powers and heavy Christian upbringing the closest the movie comes to a direct reference. The rest of the picture is more random in design, which doesn’t encourage a hearty response. A polite head nod for all the high jinks is as far as it gets.

Pandemonium Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a new 2K from a 35mm interpositive, and the results are appealing, giving an obscure title a second life on Blu-ray. Colors are vibrant throughout, dealing with a bright palette that offers vivid blues and purples for cheerleading camp, and Candy's special laser powers enjoy deep reds. Interiors produce secure, varied decorative and facility hues, and greenery is lively. Skintones are natural. Detail is satisfactory throughout with some softness. Interiors retain dimension, along with open spaces, including the expanse of a football stadium. Jokes are treated well here, retaining the specifics of design. Delineation is strong, preserving shadow play and scenes of stalking. Grain is heavier but film-like. Source is in strong condition.

Pandemonium Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers a clean listening experience, leading with clear dialogue exchanges, preserving comedic styles and speeds. Scoring is supportive with mild instrumentation, with heavier emphasis on slapstick support and football marches. Sound effects are adequately defined.

Pandemonium Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Dying of Laughter" (14:41, HD) is an interview with director Alfred Sole, who recounts his initial meeting with the producers of "Pandemonium," and while he had no history with comedy, he was offered the job, coming off work in horror. To help with funny business, the helmer hired members of The Groundlings in supporting parts, and he was inspired to bring in older stars, using their timing and presence to boost the throwback appeal of the effort. Technical challenges are highlighted, including management of a real horse that could climb stairs, but couldn't get back down. Sole recalls his collaborations with Paul Reubens and his observance of Tom Smothers and his "dark side." Improvisations are celebrated, and the interviewee reports a happy set was shared by all.

• Still Gallery (:37) collects film stills and publicity shots.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Pandemonium Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Pandemonium" remains approachable due to the cast, which mixes young talent (including a brief appearance by the late, great Phil Hartman) with older Hollywood stars (including Eve Arden and Eileen Brennan), and everyone gives the material their all, even when the picture gets stuck with some lame ideas and broadness that's too much for Sole to handle. It's not a funny movie, but it's energetic enough, and for those who are curious about the early '80s and industry trends, "Pandemonium" slides in as an interesting example of genre mixing and tomfoolery.