This “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD release from Arrow Video is now available.
If you spent any time in your childhood watching horror movies on late night television, then you’ll no doubt be familiar with a countless number of hosts who also appeared during these broadcasts and introduced the various B-movie titles as they played across your screen. One of the most famous was Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (aka Cassandra Peterson) a personality who appeared on Los Angeles area stations before landing a deal with NBC and becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Decked out in a black gown and displaying a fair amount of, well, cleavage, she made an indelible impression by incorporating humor and wit into her bits, often wisecracking about the movies on display.
As she became more popular, the actress began working on film and television projects based around developing the popular character. With the backing of NBC Productions, it culminated in Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, a feature film co-produced by the broadcaster and New World Pictures. While there was great hope that the project would expand into a series of movies, a TV-show and other media properties, it didn’t make a big impact at the box office and was not well received by critics. Still, over time this flick has developed a sizable following. Arrow Video released a Blu-ray in 2020 with loads of extras. Now, everything has been ported over in 4K Ultra HD edition. As before, the movie picture and sound has been upgraded, and the release contains all the same illuminating background information explaining how it all came together.
It all begins when TV host Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) quits her job after being propositioned by the new station president. Despite dreams of creating and starring in a horror-themed Las Vegas stage show, she knows that she’ll never be able to get it off the ground without financing. Suddenly, Elvira receives a telegram informing her that her great aunt Morgana has passed away. The ex-hostess heads out to Massachusetts for the will-reading and inherits a run-down home, which she decides to fix up and sell. Unfortunately, the town is run by an extremely conservative town council, led by Chastity Pariah (Edie McClurg), who wants to run Elvira out of town. Despite the terrible behavior of locals, the hostess finds a few friends in local movie-theater owner Bob (Daniel Greene) and the town’s teenage population. The protagonist also discovers that Morgana dabbled in witchcraft and that her recent death may not have been an accident.
I’m not sure who keeps tally of these sorts of things, but I imagine that Elvira: Mistress of the Dark may very well have the highest ratio of breast-related jokes ever committed to a comedy feature. There appear to be one or two gags involving heaving bosoms in just about every scene. I’m not sure that this would necessarily be a record to be proud of, but at least the star is charismatic and the movie itself is generally sweet-natured as it pokes fun at conservative morals and prudishness.
It’s all pretty silly, schlocky stuff, but that makes sense given that the character (and presumably the audience) would be fans of cheesy old monster movies. It often looks like the leads are getting themselves into trouble just for the sake of a gag. Still, Peterson’s Elvira is an extremely charismatic personality who possesses exceptional comic timing. She delivers some very amusing speeches, along with some amusing observations. Elvira also gets to take part in a couple of amusing physical comedy moments. One bit, involving councilmember Pariah misinterpreting a local movie-marquee sign, may be the highlight and earns a huge laugh. The conservative townspeople also take part in a couple of entertaining scenes, including a town picnic that ends in debauchery. This reviewer also enjoyed a comment at the end of the film from Elvira’s romantic rival, Patty (Susan Kellermann), who begrudgingly apologizes to the heroine for attempting to literally burn her at the stake earlier in the feature.
Truthfully, it’s sweeter than it is saucy and at times feels a bit like a TV-movie (albeit with a barrage of jokes about breasts continually thrown in). There are also too many characters in the film and few are given the opportunity to stand out. Still, one cannot help but feel that had the movie been successful, further adventures could have really developed the Elvira role and found the ideal balance between humor and horror. Elvira should have been an even bigger star during the 80s.
This is an old, relatively low-budget feature that has never been reference quality material. The recent Blu-ray of the film from 2020 was decent, presenting the film with a cleaner and sharper image. This “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD disc features a brand new restoration. Of course, there is only so much that one can do with the source material, and there is plenty of film grain visible. Curiously enough, it is very noticeable during the opening TV studio bits and town council meetings set during the daytime. But there are some improvements on this version. The picnic scene does look sharp and clean and the final act, featuring an attempted burning at the stake and a final battle between Elvira and the villain, is noticeably better than in previous versions. The final musical number also looks great. Overall, it’s a bit of a mixed bag and you have to be ready for plenty of grain, but there are some scenes that are definite improvements.
As mentioned, this release also comes with superb extras. There’s a lengthy and impressive 2018 documentary on the movie. You’ll find out how the movie project actually came together at NBC. Director James Signorelli (Easy Money) also delivers a humorous introduction. At least, that’s what it’s supposed to be, only he can’t seem to deliver his lines properly.
There are three commentary tracks on the disc too. The first is a track with star/co-writer Cassandra Peterson, co-writer John Paragon and cast member Edie McClurg. It’s very jovial and the participants are straight-forward and honest, talking a great deal about the many problems they encountered. She mentions having to corner executive producer Brandon Tartikoff and get him to pony up funds to shoot the Vegas-set ending. Peterson also discusses her work with comedy troupe The Groundlings and points out many of the group members who make cameos in the movie.
While they all suggest they had a great time making the movie and enjoyed everyone’s company onset, the group reveal some of the more difficult shooting elements, including the climax, which involved rain, fire, fog-machines spewing carbon gasses that made breathing difficult. In general, Peterson has great stories to tell, even at one point detailing her brief relationship with Elvis Presley (at one point in the film, she wears a shirt with the performer on it). Peterson discusses the fact that the teenagers were added to the story because NBC insisted on the feature appealing to a wider demographic. She also shares info that Brad Pitt auditioned for the role of one of the teens in the movie… and says that despite his talent, they couldn’t cast him because he was too good-looking. It’s a very entertaining discussion.
There’s another commentary involving Fangoria editor Tony Timpone and director Signorelli. The filmmaker doesn’t talk a whole lot early on, with Timpone providing plenty of trivia and background information. However, the director eventually starts sharing and provides astute insight into why the movie wasn’t a success. While he’s proud of the work, he states that they weren’t given the proper budget (New World was having financial problems at the time and went under shortly after). Signorelli believes that adding in so many extra characters at the behest of executives also hurt the movie. He notes that the main supernatural plot doesn’t really take hold until the movie’s final third and that the pacing isn’t ideal.
There’s also a track featuring the webmaster of an Elvira site, who also provides some bonus trivia. In addition, the disc comes with loads of publicity materials, including trailers, extensive image galleries and storyboards of several sequences. It all makes for an entertaining array of extras.
It actually seems to this reviewer like the movie was playing it a bit too safe, and would have benefitted from edgier material and a plot featuring Elvira dealing with both a prudish town and monsters more in keeping with the B-movies she used to parody. Still, while it may not be the greatest horror/comedy ever made, the feature does benefit from a wonderful lead and provides genre fans with a few chuckles along the way. The disc itself is filled to the brim with extras that are pleasing and fun.
If you have a fondness for 80s horror/comedies or are a fan of the featured character, Arrow Video’s new 4K Ultra HD “Limited Edition” of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark may be worth your attention. It isn’t perfect image-wise, but