Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD (fun horror film review).

I recall purchasing this video, ‘Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark,’ more than 30 years ago, primarily because I had read about the woman in ‘Fangoria,’ but that was the extent of my knowledge. Her hosting duties never came across the pond. With three audio commentaries, it looks like I’m going to be concentrating on them.

The plot isn’t difficult to recall, and I only had to correct a couple of details from memory. Actress Cassandra Peterson’s character Elvira, who quits her studio job due to sexual harassment from her new boss, discovers she inherits a house, a dog, and a cookbook. When she arrives, the house is more of a derelict, but she resolves, along with the local teenagers, to spruce it up for sale, much to the disdain of the local townsfolk who, at best, find her odd. She discovers that the cookbook is actually a book of spells, as you do, not to mention a selection of ingredients in the kitchen. When she can’t find the ingredients, she substitutes them with unfamiliar ones, leading to unexpected outcomes. Her uncle Vincent “Vinnie’ (actor W. Morgan Sheppard) is determined to get the book for his own nefarious reasons. It all comes down to one mighty climax, but Elvira achieves her ambition to dance at Las Vegas.

All with me, still? Actually, the film is quite enjoyable, filled with subtle innuendos throughout. Don’t expect political politeness. The production did not aim for political politeness, nor did it exist in 1988. Elvira is portrayed as sexy, off-key, and catty, yet she possesses a genuine heart. She is a horror host after all. I acquired

She released her second and more difficult-to-find film, ‘Elvira’s Haunted Hills’ (2001), a few years ago, and it’s in a similar vein, with additional blood vessels available.

Plastic retractable knife in its scabbard? Okay, let’s proceed with the initial audio commentary.

Recorded in 2013, the first features actors Cassandra Peterson and Edie McClurg as Chastity Pariah, the film’s evil lady, alongside writer John Paragon, who also plays a small role as the self-service garage owner near the film’s beginning. The opening incorporates elements from her TV show. What can I spoil? They were told to include teenagers. The town was the Warner lot, where they filmed ‘Back To the Future,’ but it was a cold winter. It’s a shame the pilot for her TV show isn’t included here. Maybe with the sequel? I’m amazed at Peterson’s memories of the shows, scenes, and people—to the point it’s a spoiler. She also still owns some of the significant props that were used during the recording process. Indeed, the filming process took eight weeks, primarily involving physical effects.

The second audio commentary is from 2017 with director James Signorelli and ‘Fangoria’ editor Tony Timpone. The movie highlights the small, significant roles played by six Groundlings that Cassandra Peterson worked with on TV. Signorelli thinks Elvira should have had more time for her asides. This film provides a wealth of information about the cast. The only actor they failed to identify was Billy, played by Frank Collison. Signorelli wishes he had more money for the budget effects. I do wonder if it would have been beneficial if they had seen ‘The Making Of-‘, but it hasn’t been released yet.

Signorelli relied on his memory, while Timpone relied on notes.

The third audio commentary of 2017 featured Patterson Lundquist, the gatekeeper of the Elvira website, which provides comprehensive information about the cast, props, buildings, and other related details. He points out that when Elvira’s double, Susan McNabb, does close-ups of hands and legs, it is probably to give her something to do other than just hang around all day and night.

Apart from this, does Elvira have a surname based on Morgana and Vinnie Talbot’s names?

All the extras are from 2018.

‘Too Macabre – The Making Of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark’ (2018) runs at 97 minutes and is one of the longest extras seen to date for me. I was struck by the challenges of developing a film first, followed by a TV show, and then vice versa, as these divisions no longer exist today. Brad Pitt was rejected from the audition due to his excessive beauty. Observing the cast and production members both in their original roles and in their current roles is quite enjoyable. Cassandra Peterson recorded her first scene at the case, memorizing the dialogue without using an autocue. Although there is a plethora of information to discuss, it would be unwise to spoil the enjoyment. This film is truly worth watching, and it is highly recommended that you view the outtakes following the end credits. Everyone enjoyed making it, but due to poor marketing and concerns about New World Pictures’ closure, it didn’t perform well at the box office. Considering the other films that were released at the time, many of which are now famous, the fact that ‘Elvira’ ranked 8th in the opening week ratings should be significant. The video release, which I witnessed in the UK, was what turned the film into a cult classic, and it sold incredibly well.

‘Recipe for Terror: The Creation Of The Pot Monster’ spans 22 minutes and demonstrates how Doug Beswick collaborated with Steve Laporte and Yancy Calzada to create the creature, as well as other effects, such as the gradual transformation of W. Morgan Shepherd. The entire team, with the exception of Doug Beswick, engages in conversation, while we also witness the design sketches.

The stills gallery is extensive, with over six categories. Here are a lot of stills, but, at least on the advance disk, no controls. We’re talking about 40 minutes worth here.

For our sponsor, “Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark” is available on ARROW and in Limited Edition 4K UHD starting from 11th November 2024. Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark comes with a booklet, offering great value for your money.

I must admit that I prefer to take a break between watching a film with multiple commentaries, and the advance disk was only delivered last week. The thing about ‘Elvira’ is that it’s a fun film, and it’s even infectious in the commentaries that they enjoyed it, and I just kept going on alternate days. Elvira occupies a unique niche in the humorous horror market, a status that none of the other horror film hosts have ever achieved. Had New World continued, it was likely there would have been a series of films before moving over to TV. “Elvira” is entertaining, but be cautious not to consume her meals.

GF Willmetts

November 2024

(pub: Arrow Films, 2024. 1 UltraHD disk 96 minute film with extras. Price: £29.99 (UK).
cast: Cassandra Peterson, W. Morgan Sheppard, Daniel Greene and Susan Kellermann
check out website: www.arrowfilms.com/4k/elvira-mistress-of-the-dark-limited-edition-4k-ultra-hd/15603501.html