Trail of the Screaming Forehead (2008)

So far, the American Larry Blamire has completed five features, achieving in my opinion an admirable and likable body of work, beginning with the well-received Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra (2001). Of the four I have managed to see, each has the distinctive style of its writer-director-actor: genial and humane humour, consistently amusing parody of older genres, allied with use of an increasingly familiar stock company - all of whom seem to be enjoying themselves as much as director and audience.Blamire writes, directs and frequently acts in his own films, his careful scripts reveling in non-sequiturs and deliberate longueurs whilst eschewing coarse dialogue. The surreal Trail Of The Screaming Forehead stands the most apart from its fellows I have seen, being made in colour, perhaps more expressly silly, with increased special effects work and the inclusion of special guest players (Dick Miller and Kevin McCarthy). Perhaps because of that, whilst still very amusing, it seems a little less characteristic and considered. However, this said, I have to report that after seeing it again lately I chuckled just as much as the first time - something which is entirely in line with those who revisit Blamire's films, which have a quiet quality all of their own and which never grow stale - which is ironic, as they constantly reference dated genres.I think Blamire is an auteur to treasure, one who gives the art of parody back its name and quality - especially after the dismal, bigger-budgeted attempts of the likes of Jason Friedberg and the Wayans, directors who seem to have no affection for the films they imitate and always aim for the obvious. Their films are, arguably, hardly films at all - merely narrative clothes pegs on which to hang cheap laughs, slapdash and vulgar in equal measure, where Blamire is neither.Speaking for myself, a sure-fire indication of a good parody is my willingness to revisit the work when the original joke has been seen and gone; this is true of most of Blamire's films, which grow more amusing and endearing upon re-acquaintance. And while the film types Blamire affectionately references have typically long since left our screen, I think his own work set around them remains fresh and original.Lost Skeleton was the first I discovered and still has a special place in my affections; but there's not much between it and Dark And Stormy Night - the finest ensemble piece in Blamire's work. Only The Lost Skeleton Returns Again I think a slight disappointment - even though it too has its moments, if only because inevitably there's a sense of deja vu in any sequel of this sort while the narrative flow seems a little forced. (I hope to rent a copy of Johnny Slade's Greatest Hits (UK: Meet The Mobsters) soon, as that undoubtedly adds another dimension to Blamire's output albeit one far more commercial.) Although the liking, or not, of any film is always a matter of taste, I would recommend a discovery of Blamire's small but extremely likable oeuvre, filled with charming nonsense, endearing featured players, and quotable moments of dialogue, to anyone. In a world of CGI, bloated superstar egos and coarse humour passing as wit this all comes a pleasant discovery.

After seeing this little gem in our On Demand service, I knew I had to watch it. It doesn't really have much of a re-watchability factor to it, but it's worth the view if you like this sort of thing.Honestly, it's one of those movies that's so mind numbingly bad (I'm assuming it was supposed to be though, since it seems sort of like a parody of some form) that it's absolutely hilarious. The title alone tells you pretty much what you're in for really.I wouldn't call this scary by any means, but to be fair I'm a horror movie junkie. I loved Trail of the Screaming Forehead mostly because it was so ridiculous and cheesy that it made me laugh. I couldn't tell you why but movies that are bad on purpose are to me what lights are to moths. I'd also like to say that this film could probably earn a Guinness world record for the most times the word "forehead" is mentioned in a movie. Kudos to the people that actually managed to make a feature film about nothing but foreheads so entertaining!

One of the great joys of Larry Blamire's films is that he uses the same core cast for each of his affectionate pastiches, so you get to see them in a variety of roles. The affection one feels for them upon meeting up again is akin to that felt for long gone movie actors of one's childhood. This film "presented by Ray Harryhausen" has inexplicably failed to find distribution, even to DVD, but eventually showed up near Hallowe'en 2010 on the Independent Film Channel. It uses INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS as its template (indeed, the late Kevin McCarthy makes a brief cameo appearance).This has some nice animation (or CGI?) from the Chiodo Brothers, and a really hysterical theme song, which Blamire's wife manages to sing twice in the film a capella (hats off for that!).This is not as spot on as THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA, but it is certainly wonderful enough to deserve distribution. I particularly like the disguise the aliens use of pillbox hats with veils which completely fails to hide their bulging foreheads.

I just was at the world premiere of The Trail of the Screaming Forehead at the Seattle International Film Festival (2007), and it was terrific! I was afraid that The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra would be a hard act to follow (probably the funniest movie of the new millennium)…but they did it! The writing was sharp and funny, the acting was spot-on, the cinematography was great (surreal primaries and pastels of the 1960s), even the score and lyrics were good! The audience was laughing from start to end. Larry Blamire, Jennifer Blaire, Dan Conroy and Trish Geiger were on hand for the Q&A (also very funny). And the film has special treats like animation from Ray Harryhausen, and cameos from movie icons like Dick Miller and Kevin McCarthy. Go see this movie when it comes to your town, buy it when it comes out on DVD!