Midnight Matinee (1989)

Originally created for a Canadian cable channel, Midnight Matinee is every ounce as terrible as a made-for-tv-movie could be.

It's like every bit of this movie was stolen from other movies in the 80's. If it were a better movie with wittier writing, I'd think it was supposed to be a satire. Turns out though, it's just a bad rip-off. That turned into a great rip-off (Popcorn, one of my very favorite underrated horror flicks).

The Plot In A Nutshell:
A horror movie festival ends in an actual murder. 2 years later, the wild youth of the town wants to - get this - have another festival. SHOCKING!

Where They Stole It From:
If you think you've heard this story before that's because it's basically the plot for My Bloody Valentine (1981), both of which were made in Canada. Coincidence?... I think not.

Or perhaps you're a big fan of Italian horror and have seen Demons a few times where the things playing out in the movie the characters are watching start happening to them, too. How very meta.

The Very First Death In The Movie:
A teenage boy lies alone in a bunk bed after having pre-marital sex with his girlfriend. A hand come from under the bed and clamps down, covering his mouth. Then, the tip of a knife pokes up through his throat, killing him.

Where They Stole It From:
If you don't know this one, I revoke your horror fan card. It's how Jason's mom dispatched Kevin Bacon's character in Friday The 13th (1980).

If you're still in doubt (for some reason) when they show the marquee for the horror festival, the first movie is called "Camp Blood".

The Second Movie You See:
Teenage vampires and their other-worldly yet completely predictable high school politics.

Where They Stole It From:
The Lost Boys (1987), of course.

The Third Movie:
Features a floppy, homemade, sack-style mask-wearing killer that wields a chainsaw.

Where They Stole It From:
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).

What is strange about this movie is the collection of actors who actually became famous after appearing in this lackluster piece of work: William Davis (The Smoking Man from The X-Files), Don Davis (Twin Peaks, Stargate SG1, 21 Jump Street, and also an X-Files alum), and Gillian Barber (also a Stargate and X-Files alum).

The Wrap Up:
If you're craving a life imitates art imitating art movie, skip this one. You're welcome.

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