Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Wacko Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 22, 2019

Joining the early ‘80s craze to pants horror entertainment is director Greydon Clark, who gifts the world “Wacko,” his version of a slasher parody. Perhaps slightly miffed to watch as a bunch of no-budget scary movies conquer the box office, Clark elects to take down the absurdities of the genre, arriving with screenplay credited to four people and a cast that’s loaded with noted character actors, blended with younger talent from the day. The 1982 endeavor has no shortage of jokes, with Clark particularly attentive to the speed of the film, which carries on with rat-tat-tat timing, always on the hunt for cliches to spank and characters to mock. This is Clark competing in a post-“Airplane!” world, and it’s a big swing and a miss for the man behind “Joysticks,” “The Return,” and “Uninvited.” Instead of triggering laughs, “Wacko” mostly demands bewilderment, often coming at the audience with complete enthusiasm but no refinement or even simple punchline taste. It’s a scattergun of lame gags and clownish performances that’s periodically hard to watch, with Clark so caught up in the production effort, he misses a prime chance to dig into the goofy idiosyncrasies of slasher cinema. And yes, pies are flung during the run time.

A student at Alfred Hitchcock High School, Mary (Julia Duffy) is haunted by the anniversary of her older sister’s death at the hands of the Lawnmower Killer, a pumpkin-wearing madman who has plans to return to duty on Halloween night. While Mary’s parents, Doctor Graves (George Kennedy) and Mrs. Graves (Stella Stevens), have their own plans for the evening, Mary is trying to make it through the day, preparing to lose her virginity to boyfriend Norman Bates (Scott McGinnis), while palling around with Bambi (Elizabeth Daily) and Rosie (Michele Tobin). On the case is cop Dick Harbinger (Joe Don Baker), a slob with a hunch that the killer is ready to strike again, working hard to pick up on clues and interrogate suspects, such as The Looney (David Drucker), The Weirdo (Sonny Davis), and school groundskeeper Zeke (Anthony James).

Parody cinema shouldn’t be subtle, but refinement is never a bad idea. “Wacko” doesn’t feel written, it seems unleashed, with the material in a mad scramble to touch on as many genre references as possible, blending knowing tomfoolery with broad, Vaudville-esque humor that doesn’t fit the weird mood of the feature. Clark is trying to make fun of hits such as “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th,” but his references tend to begin decades earlier, with the world of Alfred Hitchcock receiving the most attention when it comes to satiric targets. The high school is named after the iconic director (the big football game pits the Hitchcock Birds against the DePalma Knives), while Mary’s oversexed boyfriend plays into an extended “Psycho” bit, with Norman Bates bringing the dried corpse of his dead mother to dinner, doing a ventriloquist bit to entertain the table. Even the theme of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” (“Funeral March of a Marionette”) is played throughout “Wacko,” keeping the movie’s interests divided between what Clark wants to do and what the audience might expect from a 1982 horror parody production.

“Wacko” is energized, sprinting along with its tale of suspicion, as Mary works to keep her cool during the school day while the Lawnmower Killer prepares for a fresh round of murder. The screenplay tries to pay attention to Mary and her concerns about safety and sex, remaining a virgin in the midst of a horndog student body, which included Rosie’s boyfriend, The Schlong (Andrew Dice Clay). However, Dick’s fight to solve the crime before it’s committed is really the A-plot of “Wacko,” finding Baker giving the role his all as a slob cop who lives for Twinkies, cigarettes, and coffee (even carrying liquid in his briefcase), trying to live down past mistakes to save the day. Such a mission is all well and good, but Clark goes bananas with the character, fitting Baker for multiple personalities as Dick goes undercover or indulges his sexual kinks, and, in the most bizarre segment in the picture, participates in a car chase with a suspect on school grounds, taking a jump that launches his car into the sky, flying into the clouds. Whatever movie this scene is referencing is unclear, but so much of “Wacko” is, and there are no laughs to support such non sequiturs, which supply more unearned manic energy.

Wacko Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Vinegar Syndrome makes a move to pull "Wacko" out of the depth of obscurity, giving the picture a Blu-ray release after its rental heyday in the 1980s. Billed as "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative," "Wacko" arrives on HD with ideal clarity and brightness. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation easily reaches cinematographic limitations, capturing low-budget shenanigans with strong detail, surveying strange costumes (Halloween and otherwise) and facial features, while more outrageous elements of make-up, Pumpkinheadedness, and disease are easily observed, coming through as intended. Locations retain depth and interiors are loaded with decoration, presenting signs and sight gags to study when the material offers little to pay attention to. Colors are vivid, finding primaries intact and expressive. Bloodshed (and ketchup spills) retains deep redness, skintones are natural, and holiday extremity is distinct. Delineation is satisfactory, keeping evening adventures open for study. Source is in fine condition.

Wacko Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix shows more age, with hiss carrying through the listening event, and some sibilance issues creeping into play on occasion. Dialogue exchanges are appealing, with heft on punchlines, supporting performances that truly offer a range of professional abilities. Scoring is supportive without overwhelming the track, and soundtrack cuts tend to energize the mood as intended, delivered with proper instrumentation. Sound effects are pronounced, playing into the comedic mood of "Wacko."

Wacko Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Greydon Clark.

• Interview (7:11) with Nicholas von Sternberg is a short reflection on the creation of "Wacko." The cinematographer details his initial meetings with Clark, winning him over with an extensive lighting plan for the production. Some frustration is shared with Clark's obsessive use of video assist, trying to use the camera system to help assemble shots that couldn't be realized, and the helmer's careful attention to the schedule is recalled, with a speedy shoot important to Clark. An overview of the cast and their individual accomplishments is presented, with von Sternberg clarifying George Kennedy's advancing age, with the actor finding bodily movement difficult. The interviewee also briefly explores his interactions with directors of various experience, and the whole talk is frequently interrupted by von Sternberg's ringing cell phone, presenting immediate distractions.

• Outtakes (9:37, HD) include Mrs. Graves feeding messy chocolates to her dead daughter's headstone, an evening stroll with Mary, Bambi, and Rosie, a heated exchange between Zeke and his sentient shrub, a visit to a lawnmower shop with Dick, a basketball match between Dick and The Looney, an overheated cheerleader practice, and more time with Zeke and the shrub. All scenes are presented without sound.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:12, HD) is included.

Wacko Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Wacko" takes aim at "The Exorcist," "The Omen," and "Dr. Strangelove," providing defined satiric targets, which is welcome. The rest of the feature is more random, frustratingly so, with a character such as Vice Principal Harry Palms (oof) turned into a Southern preacher for no particular reason. Clark chases too many whims with "Wacko," ending up at a Big Dance finale that takes up the last 30 minutes of the film, trying to pay off a collision of jokes and violence that's never established with enough care to begin with.