Killjoy 3

Killjoy 3 (2010)

Directed By: John Lechago

Review Written By: Horse
Mondo Film & Video Guide Review Contributor
IMDb.com Link

Killjoy 3, I have to admit, I have never seen one or two. I also have to admit, I’m well aware of their existence, but they just looked like dumb crap to me. Watching the trailers for them on this disc confirms that ‘they are what I thought they were, and I left ‘em on the shelf!’ Was it the urban angle that steered me away? No, although most hood horror movies suck, (Tales from the Hood and Bones are the only ones I’ve added to my collection, sorry Leprechaun n da Hood!) that’s not why. They are also horror-comedies, which is a tough act to pull off. It does fare better than urban horror at casa de la Horse, with Evil Dead 2, House, Hatchet, Brain Dead, Dead Alive, Dead & Breakfast, The American Werewolf films and some others I can’t think of right now represented on the DVD shelf. Still, balancing these genres is hard and often disastrous. Then there’s the clown angle. Clowns never have scared me, freaked me out a bit sure, seemed silly and/or stupid, yeah, but never scared.

You're Not So Bad

I also haven’t liked many clown films, only Killer Klowns and It! reside with me. So I was weary to even try this; hell it’s got three strikes before even opening the shrinkwrap (thank you Full Moon for sending finished discs for review), but a job is a job and I got one to do. Does this continue the line of ‘more than likely shitfests’ or take the series in a good direction? Read on readers, read on….

Even better than finished discs for review is the fact that most of the new Full Moon offerings are coming out in anamorphic widescreen. I was actually taken aback by how nice this DVD looked when playing. Big props on the higher quality! Right from the opening shot outside a cabin with the moon over it I knew this was going to be better than expected. The stereo audio leaves something to be desired, but I can hear everything up front, so it’s not a detriment either. Rounding out the technical stuff is a making of for this film, the making of the first Killjoy film, and about 6-8 trailers including all the Killjoys.

Needs More Paprika

In a cabin somewhere a professor meets what looks like an evil monk and summons Killjoy (Trent Haaga, reprising his title role from the second film), the demon of vengeance who wants a posse with him this time out. He summons three other demon clowns, Punchy the behemoth hobo-clown, Freakshow, a conjoined twins mime, and sexy succubus Batty Boop (Victoria De Mare). Batty is making this enjoyable right off, dressed only in hooker boots, arm-length gloves, a boa and body paint. Oh she has a tail too; it’s just hard to notice most of the time. She looks like something out of a Playboy party or Vegas act, and has the Betty Boop voice thing going the whole time. The professor says he doesn’t want all this, he just wanted Killjoy. He then leaves as Killjoy demands a victim. Without a victim, he and his crew have no purpose in this realm and can’t stay.

The Main Event

After the opening credits we find a party being broken up at the professor’s house. Sandy (Jessica Whitaker) is house-sitting for the prof and soon only she, her boyfriend Roger, BFF Erica and Roger’s best bud Zilla are left behind. Roger is the school’s star quarterback and Zilla an offensive lineman. “He takes care of me on the gridiron; I take care of him in the real world”. Zilla has the hots for Erica but not the nerve to ask her out: or anything for that matter. The next morning Roger & Sandy find a package on the front porch. It’s not addressed to anyone, so being nosy little fuckers; they open it later that night when the gang is all together. It’s an ornate magic mirror. They think it looks like an artifact, but it’s really a doorway to the other realm where Killjoy resides.

Full Moon Opening

After a viewing of Puppet Master 3 or 4 on the tele, Zilla is drawn to and then into the mirror. He lands in a boxing ring where Killjoy soon greats him, and where Punchy gets to whipping his ass. He whoops Zilla right out of the mirror where everyone else can see him still getting pummeled. They think he’s having a seizure as he punches the air and blood flows from his mouth. Somehow he is saved before Punchy lands a killer blow and Killjoy is hot pissed they got away. “Not so fast” says Batty, reading the instructions for the mirror. The kids soon learn the phones are out and there’s a force field keeping them trapped inside the house. Even when Roger tapes “Help Us” and “Call Police” notes to the windows, they change into sad smiley faces and “You’re Next!” notes. While everyone helps Zilla upstairs, Erica stays behind to clean the blood and soon looks in the mirror herself. A touch and she’s trapped in Killjoy’s world, where he holds her as bait to get the rest of the kids in. He has to kill them in his realm, or else he doesn’t get the souls.

After a while everyone notices Erica is gone. They find her in the mirror, being basted with an apple in her mouth, prepared for the feast where she is the main course. Killjoy taunts them and they begin to try and arm themselves with salt to go save her. Guess salt is supposed to repel demons, can’t say I’ve heard that one, but I can dig it man. Roger asks, “why are we afraid of clowns?’. “Cause they’re fucking stupid, how is this going to help us?” replies Sandy. They determine they’re supposed to laugh at Killjoy, somehow that will stop him… Just then the professor arrives, but the door closes behind him, keeping everyone trapped. Thankfully the professor has a plan.

Dinner Is Serve

He’s been doing his research on Killjoy and knows his real name. “If we understand the demon, we can control it; we can banish it” “I’m going to call Killjoy by his true name, his original name, and that will give me power over him”. Sounds like a great plan, so through the mirror goes everyone. Roger finds himself alone with Batty.

Here Comes The GOOD Part!

“You’re one of those psycho bitches aren’t you?”
“I tink, dats the sweetest ting, anyone’s ever told me”.
Zilla finds Punchy, but ends up sitting and talking to him about social equality.
“What the hell gives Killjoy the right to push you around?’
“Bunny!”
“Power to the people Punchy!”
“Power to the puppies”
Sandy falls into Killjoy’s bed where he puts the moves on her. He tells her she has to dance, and with a clap she’s in a belly-dancer outfit.
Meanwhile, Batty tells Roger they can have a quickie.
“In and that’s it!”
“Don’t you mean in and out?”
“I got teeth everywhere honey, there’s no out!”
“Don’t sweat it baby boy, your girlfriend won’t know”
“She will if my dick’s bitten off”
Bummer, she’s mad fuckable. Roger convinces her Killjoy may be cheating on her, saving his ass for now. Sandy notices Batty peaking in looking jealous so she starts offering herself to Killjoy.
“I can offer you something you’ve never had before”
“and what would that be?”
“Consensual sex… and, I’m a virgin.”
Killjoy is like, hells yeah but Batty steps in.
“Weren’t you just getting your rocks off with her boyfriend?
“I’m a succubus; dat’s my job, what’s your excuse?”
With a snap of his fingers, Batty disappears into a green mist, apparently sent back to hell. Then a bell rings and everyone is around a dinner table. I’ll stop here to not spoil anything, or anymore depending on how you look at it. I’ll just say not everyone makes it, and there is a tie to the first film (from what I can gather from the trailer). We also find out who the professor’s victim is, can you guess it?

Couple Of Clowns

I’m pleasantly surprised with this. I expected a waste of 76 minutes but found it to be fun and worthwhile. Sure some jokes are cringe-worthy, but many got a laugh. There were no horrible actors to ruin it. Effects look a bit old-school, but not bad. No real nudity, except the paint on Batty. Not much gore either except a couple digital effects. I’m still not going to watch the first two films, but will probably keep this one around. Good direction, cinematography and editing. The short runtime doesn’t hurt it either, I don’t think longer would be better. Short, sweet and to the point. More on the comedy side than horror for sure. This one is definitely worth a watch, although I’d suggest renting first as my taste in cheese may vary from common folk.

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