The Last Horror Film (1982)

Directed by

David Winters

Genre

slasher film, horror film

Country

United States

Runtime

1h 27m

Rated

R

Rating

5.3 of 10 from 71 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

A New York City taxi driver who is delusional thinks he can be a film director. He goes to the Cannes Film Festival and starts stalking an actress he is obsessed with.

satiricalcreepycampytensedarkly comicsleazy

What happens

The Last Horror Film (also released as Fanatic) is a 1982 American horror comedy film produced by Judd Hamilton directed by David Winters and starring Joe Spinell and Caroline Munro. Its plot follows a delusional middle-aged New York City taxi driver who, fixated on the idea of being a film director, visits the Cannes Film Festival where he begins stalking an actress he is obsessed with. The film was shot on location at the Cannes Film Festival in France, initially without permits while during filming a permit was provided by the Cannes city council, reuniting actors Spinell and Munro, who had previously starred together in Maniac (1980). Upon its initial release, it won and was nominated in several film festivals dedicated to genre films. It was considered a partially lost film due to the fact that portions of its gore were excised from the original 35 mm film negatives, and largely only available on some home video editions. In 2023, a complete print of the original cut was found at the La Cinémathèque Française, and utilized by Severin Films for a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release. The Last Horror Film is praised for its unique blend of self-reflexive horror, humor, and inventive filmmaking. Critics highlight its avant-garde approach, using the Cannes Film Festival as a backdrop for a slasher plot that cleverly reflects on the film industry. Joe Spinell's performance is widely celebrated as the heart of the film, with his real-life mother adding charm. The movie is described as an entertaining and nostalgic treat for horror fans and a daring guerilla-style production. Many regard it as a standout in Spinell’s career and a cult classic of the genre. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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