I was hoping to a get a review in a day since I already have all the movies watched, but work managed to get in the way of that. I had some reports that could not wait and a late night because of work threw my sleep way off. The things I do for a paycheck, you know? Anyway, with this review for Abnormal Attraction (2018), I will be halfway through the films that I watched last weekend. I hope to have them done by the end of next week, if not sooner. I almost decided to skip Abnormal Attraction because it was the midnight screening and I was planning to go to the 10am screening the next morning, so that didn't leave a lot of room for sleep. In a way I wish I had, I might have caught more screenings Saturday. But, at the same time, I'm glad I did get to watch this one as it is the only other film that will get a high rating.
Doctor Stanley Cole (Bruce Davison) runs a support group call Abnormal Attraction. As each person begins to tell their personal story, we slowly begin to realize what they are attracted to, monsters and other things that aren't real in our own reality. Dr. Cole even has his own attraction that he doesn't talk about. Meanwhile, Dr. Cole knows Nick (Nathan Reid) at the college they both work at. Nick is interested in helping the monsters, but they don't trust him all that much since he is human. Human's and the monsters are not getting along all that well for the most part and there are those that hunt the monsters. The monsters are mostly lead by Madam Hildie (Leslie Easterbrook), a witch who has her own reasons for not liking humans. When Alyssa (Nicole Balsam) finds out that Nick has gone missing and believes the monsters have him, she leads a small team to rescue him. A clash is about to happen and Nick is trying to stop it.
Abnormal Attraction was co-written by Steven Della Salla, Jason Leavy, and Michael Leavy, who also directed. If you have ever watched the film Who Killed Roger Rabbit? then you have a good idea what this movie is about. I don't mean trying to figure out who killed someone else, but having something that isn't real become part of reality and real people trying to figure out how to deal with that. Just like the other film, there is more to the story of Abnormal Attraction than just that, but that is what pushes the plot along. I don't know if I made the plot sound serious or not above, but you should know that this is a comedy all the way through. There ends up being three different storylines that run through the plot and coverage by the end of the film.The doctor's storyline is the shortest of the three, with Alyssa's being on the short side as well, but still longer than the doctor's. It is a fun story with lots of monsters to be found, both new and old. A vampire, witch, Yeti (Want a snow cone?), Frankenstein's monster, cyclops, and even a mermaid, so you know I was onboard! I don't think Abnormal Attraction will end up being scary for anyone since it is just a comedy really. It has some slightly serious notes to it, but not many. This isn't a silly kind of comedy though, which I think is what helps make it so much better. Most of the comedy centers around the character Finbar, played by Jason Leavy. This character is around a lot in the second and third story for good reason. I was trying hard to remember where I had seen this character before. It wasn't the character, after all, just the way that Leavy performed it. If you have ever watched Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, the character Freakshow is who Finbar reminded me of. Finbar and the movie, in general, had me and plenty of others laughing a lot. There are some interesting plot points, like the secrets Cole and Nick have. Nick doesn't appear to have a secret so it is a bit of a surprise when it is revealed. I also liked the small backstory for Madam Hildie.
Things get a little gory when a character gets shot, but that was about it outside of creature makeup. I didn't always like how the creatures looked, but for the style of the film was aiming at, it all fits. Overall, the effects are pretty good. The acting was the best part of Abnormal Attraction. There were a few minor roles that I didn't care for the acting in, but outside of that, the acting was spot on. Jason Leavy stole the show in most of the scenes that he was in easily. Tyler Mane shows up as the cyclops and does a wonderful job with his role. Malcolm McDowell has a small role as the Boogyman. Gilbert Gottfried shows up now and then under makeup, but his voice still gives him away. Michael Buscemi also has a small role. Michael Barra plays the Yeti who runs a snow cone truck. Nothing against Nicole Balsam and Nathan Reid as they were wonderful as well in the lead roles.
With all the funny stuff going on in Abnormal Attraction, it was easy to stay awake for it even though it was getting very late. I did pay for it some the next day, but I'm very glad I got to watch this. The guy that mostly runs the film side of the convention even made the comment that this was his favorite film of all those that were screening. For me, it was The Hatred, but this runs a close second for sure. There wasn't much about this one that I didn't like. It isn't much of a horror movie really, but it still has a good message to it. I don't know when this one will be out for everyone, as I think it is just hitting festivals at the moment, but be sure to check it out if given the chance to do so. Very much worth your time if you are into this type of film. I know I will be looking out for it so I can watch it again.
4 out of 5 Go on, sit on my face
Doctor Stanley Cole (Bruce Davison) runs a support group call Abnormal Attraction. As each person begins to tell their personal story, we slowly begin to realize what they are attracted to, monsters and other things that aren't real in our own reality. Dr. Cole even has his own attraction that he doesn't talk about. Meanwhile, Dr. Cole knows Nick (Nathan Reid) at the college they both work at. Nick is interested in helping the monsters, but they don't trust him all that much since he is human. Human's and the monsters are not getting along all that well for the most part and there are those that hunt the monsters. The monsters are mostly lead by Madam Hildie (Leslie Easterbrook), a witch who has her own reasons for not liking humans. When Alyssa (Nicole Balsam) finds out that Nick has gone missing and believes the monsters have him, she leads a small team to rescue him. A clash is about to happen and Nick is trying to stop it.
Abnormal Attraction was co-written by Steven Della Salla, Jason Leavy, and Michael Leavy, who also directed. If you have ever watched the film Who Killed Roger Rabbit? then you have a good idea what this movie is about. I don't mean trying to figure out who killed someone else, but having something that isn't real become part of reality and real people trying to figure out how to deal with that. Just like the other film, there is more to the story of Abnormal Attraction than just that, but that is what pushes the plot along. I don't know if I made the plot sound serious or not above, but you should know that this is a comedy all the way through. There ends up being three different storylines that run through the plot and coverage by the end of the film.The doctor's storyline is the shortest of the three, with Alyssa's being on the short side as well, but still longer than the doctor's. It is a fun story with lots of monsters to be found, both new and old. A vampire, witch, Yeti (Want a snow cone?), Frankenstein's monster, cyclops, and even a mermaid, so you know I was onboard! I don't think Abnormal Attraction will end up being scary for anyone since it is just a comedy really. It has some slightly serious notes to it, but not many. This isn't a silly kind of comedy though, which I think is what helps make it so much better. Most of the comedy centers around the character Finbar, played by Jason Leavy. This character is around a lot in the second and third story for good reason. I was trying hard to remember where I had seen this character before. It wasn't the character, after all, just the way that Leavy performed it. If you have ever watched Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, the character Freakshow is who Finbar reminded me of. Finbar and the movie, in general, had me and plenty of others laughing a lot. There are some interesting plot points, like the secrets Cole and Nick have. Nick doesn't appear to have a secret so it is a bit of a surprise when it is revealed. I also liked the small backstory for Madam Hildie.
Things get a little gory when a character gets shot, but that was about it outside of creature makeup. I didn't always like how the creatures looked, but for the style of the film was aiming at, it all fits. Overall, the effects are pretty good. The acting was the best part of Abnormal Attraction. There were a few minor roles that I didn't care for the acting in, but outside of that, the acting was spot on. Jason Leavy stole the show in most of the scenes that he was in easily. Tyler Mane shows up as the cyclops and does a wonderful job with his role. Malcolm McDowell has a small role as the Boogyman. Gilbert Gottfried shows up now and then under makeup, but his voice still gives him away. Michael Buscemi also has a small role. Michael Barra plays the Yeti who runs a snow cone truck. Nothing against Nicole Balsam and Nathan Reid as they were wonderful as well in the lead roles.
With all the funny stuff going on in Abnormal Attraction, it was easy to stay awake for it even though it was getting very late. I did pay for it some the next day, but I'm very glad I got to watch this. The guy that mostly runs the film side of the convention even made the comment that this was his favorite film of all those that were screening. For me, it was The Hatred, but this runs a close second for sure. There wasn't much about this one that I didn't like. It isn't much of a horror movie really, but it still has a good message to it. I don't know when this one will be out for everyone, as I think it is just hitting festivals at the moment, but be sure to check it out if given the chance to do so. Very much worth your time if you are into this type of film. I know I will be looking out for it so I can watch it again.
4 out of 5 Go on, sit on my face
