The Horror Show
Terror Toons 3
by Joe Castro
I first saw the original Terror Toons on VHS back when Hollywood Video was still a thing. I'm fairly certain I was in high school at the time but I am absolutely sure about the fact that I completely loved the film. It was so offbeat and weird and had this oddball energy that I ate up before promptly licking the plate. For those unfamiliar, Terror Toons follows sisters Cindy (Beverly Lynn) and Candy (Lizzie Borden) and their friends who find themselves in a world of trouble when two sinister cartoon characters enter our realm to wreak havoc. It was an ambitious film shot in about two days and sold the colorful cartoon atmosphere.
A few years later, Terror Toons 2 was unleashed on the world. Also directed by Joe Castro, this sequel followed new characters, but matched the fun and chaotic style of its predecessor. When I heard that more were in the works, I made it a priority to check the next installment out as soon as possible. Now that it's out, I had the fortune of viewing the film, and the long and short of it is that I was not disappointed.
In classic third movie form, Terror Toons 3 is more tied into the original film than the sequel. The opening directly follows the events of the original, complete with the pink-haired hero, Cindy, heading to the hospital, desperate to revive her beloved sister. It was wonderful to see Beverly Lynn and Lizzie Borden on the screen together once again and they aren't alone in returning. I was pleasantly surprised to see the vast majority of the original cast lighting up the screen once again. On the evil side, Max Assassin and Dr. Carnage, the villains from the original are back and wreaking havoc on the hospital, causing a series of wacky and blood-laden violence. These two characters get a bit of a facelift, upping the ante and matching the more amped style of the third installment.
The film was just getting started, however, as the hospital stuff is just the primer. We are then treated by legend and Godfather of Gore himself, Herschell Gordon Lewis, who introduces the primary story. As is stated in the introduction, the central tale combines the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood stories. Of course, they are done Terror Toons style. I was thrilled to see the variety and change of direction, as it added an extra dose of fun and energy to the project.
The story follows a trio of corrupt cops looking for trouble. Meanwhile, a young man named Red, along with his friend Wolf, take a drive that is intercepted by our previously mentioned antagonists. What follows is absolute chaos filled with blood, gore, and colorful insanity that I loved. The film had a somewhat different tone than the first two and seemed to amp up the effects and stylized feel. Every second, every moment, there's a barrage of things going on and I often found myself wondering how it was possible that they brought it all together. In the end, though, it works in a fascinating way.
The film cuts back to Herschell Gordon Lewis several times as he tells the story being played out in front of the viewer. Given the over-the-top energy of the rest of the film it adds a nice little palate cleanser each time and is equally fun to watch. The rest of the film is a wild ride, complete with eye gouges, saw blade head splitting, cannibalism, and many more creative forms of destruction. The overall effect is a marvel to look at and the term “Joe Castro Experience” used in the beginning is quite an accurate one.
In addition to the recurring cast from the original, it was great to also see the always talented Brinke Stevens on screen again, having played a role in Terror Toons 2. It's a great combination of homage to its roots as well as trying out new directions and it worked for me completely. A return to the hospital ties things up nicely and left me completely satisfied with what I had just watched.
All in all, I found Terror Toons 3 to be an absolute blast. It kept me entertained from beginning to end and was just a marvel overall to look at. Terror Toons 3 is the type of film that doesn't seem to be concerned with watering itself down to the general public. It's going to have a hell of a lot of fun and is simply inviting the viewer along for the ride. This installment has my hopes high for what might follow in the Terror Toons universe. I shall be waiting in anticipation.
P.J. Griffin, HMS
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