“Popcorn” has a cast that includes Jill Schoelen, Tom Villard, De-Wallace Stone, Derek Rydall, Tony Roberts, and Ray Walston, all mostly unknowns. This doesn’t effect the fact that “Popcorn” was well worth watching.

The film centers around a group of students who set up an all night horror festival to raise funds for the film club. The horror festival includes a bunch of old school horror flicks from the 50’s shown in implements such as 3-D, Odorama, and Shockorama. Little does the group know that they are being stalked by a psychopath. A film-maker named Laynard Gates, who murdered his family on stage during the screening of his only horror movie “The Possessor”. Now he is in search of his missing daughter to finish off the family tree.

This low budget horror film is one that I had bought during a clearance sale and finally got around to watching it. Directed by Mark Herrier, more commonly known for his role as Billy in the 1982 comedy hit “Porky’s”, who went on to direct the 2004’s “I Like Mike”. Don’t expect a lot of gore, but do expect a mind-warped horror comedy. The word “good” comes to mind more often than the word “scary”. This is a hidden gem that was well worth discovering.

One scene I thought was done so well that I got the goosebumps. This is one of the major accomplishments that this film pulled off. I also liked Tom Villard as the maniac in the film. The make-up used on Tom Villard was appealing in many ways. The many faces that the lunatic stretches over his face near the end is an example of the well crafted make-up effects. Some of the kills were very energetic and intense for a low budget film such as this. I would have to say that this movie has earned my recommendation for a midnight viewing.

“Popcorn” is a more sadistic version of “Matinee”. Lacking in gore just may be the only major issue here. When it comes to low budget horror films, they usually rely on more gore to make up for the cheap set design. This movie, on the other hand, had no need to resort to buckets of blood to make an enjoyable independent horror movie. Although, buckets of blood would have added to the more pleasures that “Popcorn” has in store. Check this one out, if you can ever find it.