My review was written in March 1990 after a Times Square screening.
In regional release sans fanfare since October, "Transylvania Twist" is an occasionally hilarious horror spoof notable for the range of its comical targets. It has definite potential as a cult favorite in upcoming ancillary exposure.
Filmmaker Jim Wynorski and scripter R. J. Robertson normally take a tongue-in-cheek approach but here let all the stops out in silliness worthy of Mel Brooks (whose regular Howard Morris pops up in an effective supporting role). Their batting average on jokes is low; yet there're enough direct hits to carry the film.
Immediately with the teaser opening of perennial Wynorski starlet Monique Gabrielle (uncredited though in a big role) being stalked through the woods by Jason, Freddy Krueger and Leatherface, pic applies a scattershot approach delving into other genres as well. For example, a Transy cab driver launches into Robert De Niro's classic "You talkin' to me?" bit and a videotaped last will and testament turns into "The Newly Dead Game" spoof on tv.
Robert Vaughn, who got his start starring for producer Roger Corman in "Teenage Caveman" (1958), is delightful as a Dracula-styled vampire pronouncing the end of his last name Orlock with relish. His beautiful niece Teri Copley is an American singing star who travels to his castle in Transylvania upon the death of her father, accompanied by wise-cracking sidekick Steve Altman.
Mixed into the comic stew are many delightful reflexive bits: tracking camera that gets sidetracked on bodacious women passing by; a black & white sequence when stars visit a set that looks left over from "The Honeymooners" replete with a visit from an actor doing Art Carney as Ed Norton; and a terrifically editged appearance by the late Boris Karloff who interacts with Altman in the manner of Carl Reiner/Steve Martin's "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid".
Copley is a most alluring, dizzy blonde heroine, Altman makes the most of his turn doing impressions and intentionally bad jokes. Hip script makes numerous references to legendary horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Angus Scrimm of "Phantasm" is cast as Vaughn's butler and effectively spoofs his previous films.
Tech credits are modest, with appropriate emphasis on stock footage taken from earlier Corman efforts.
In regional release sans fanfare since October, "Transylvania Twist" is an occasionally hilarious horror spoof notable for the range of its comical targets. It has definite potential as a cult favorite in upcoming ancillary exposure.
Filmmaker Jim Wynorski and scripter R. J. Robertson normally take a tongue-in-cheek approach but here let all the stops out in silliness worthy of Mel Brooks (whose regular Howard Morris pops up in an effective supporting role). Their batting average on jokes is low; yet there're enough direct hits to carry the film.
Immediately with the teaser opening of perennial Wynorski starlet Monique Gabrielle (uncredited though in a big role) being stalked through the woods by Jason, Freddy Krueger and Leatherface, pic applies a scattershot approach delving into other genres as well. For example, a Transy cab driver launches into Robert De Niro's classic "You talkin' to me?" bit and a videotaped last will and testament turns into "The Newly Dead Game" spoof on tv.
Robert Vaughn, who got his start starring for producer Roger Corman in "Teenage Caveman" (1958), is delightful as a Dracula-styled vampire pronouncing the end of his last name Orlock with relish. His beautiful niece Teri Copley is an American singing star who travels to his castle in Transylvania upon the death of her father, accompanied by wise-cracking sidekick Steve Altman.
Mixed into the comic stew are many delightful reflexive bits: tracking camera that gets sidetracked on bodacious women passing by; a black & white sequence when stars visit a set that looks left over from "The Honeymooners" replete with a visit from an actor doing Art Carney as Ed Norton; and a terrifically editged appearance by the late Boris Karloff who interacts with Altman in the manner of Carl Reiner/Steve Martin's "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid".
Copley is a most alluring, dizzy blonde heroine, Altman makes the most of his turn doing impressions and intentionally bad jokes. Hip script makes numerous references to legendary horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Angus Scrimm of "Phantasm" is cast as Vaughn's butler and effectively spoofs his previous films.
Tech credits are modest, with appropriate emphasis on stock footage taken from earlier Corman efforts.