Stage Fright (2014)

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Whenever someone says they want to make a musical, you wonder if anyone asked them "really?"There is a problem in Canadian cinema and that is the severe dearth of good screenwriters. When someone writes his own screenplay and directs it himself, he takes more responsibility, takes a huge risk and the film has a higher chance of failure.In this film Jerome Sable takes an even higher risk, adding music and lyrics to his list of responsibilities.If you look at a successful musical such as Chicago, you'll see how many credits it takes to make a good one. The film is directed by Rob Marshall, who did not touch the screenplay, music or lyrics. The writing credits are Bill Condon (screenplay), who did not touch the music or lyrics. The music is by John Kander and Fred Ebb.In Stagefright, Jerome Sable thought he could do it all. Music, lyrics, screenplay and direct. All in his first feature. This is a common mistake in Canadian cinema (see Score: A Hockey Musical, written, directed, lyrics, etc. all by Michael McGowan). That one has a score of 4.6/10, this one currently has 5.2/10, most likely due to the horror element.This story is not sure what it wants to be. We don't know if it's a musical, a comedy, a slasher horror. The combination could've been good, but the songs weren't that funny, they actually interrupt the comedy, as do the slasher parts. In comedies, we want to laugh nonstop. I didn't find the songs that funny and I actually preferred the non-musical jokes (Japanese art reference).The production looked professional, camera, lighting, sound, etc. I think the director should keep at it, but refrain from trying to do everything himself. There are a lot of good scripts out there that could be made into great films with the right hands. Doing everything makes one look like a one-man band.

I'm still not sure whether this was a drama,a comedy, a horror flick, a farce or a musical. It improbably combines elements of each. It's not a very memorable film. But it is unique and well done. The special effects are good if you like guts and gore. The cinematography is original and creative. The acting is melodramatic but thats what it's supposed to be. And, odd as it is, it's nice to see some Canadian creativity and originality instead of the usual Hollywood clone. (We live in Muskoka. Some of this film was done in nearby Parry Sound and in North Bay. But I'm wondering whether the summer camp was actually the college at Rosseau at the north end of Lake Rosseau. The school buses in an early scene were labelled "Hammond", the company which operates most of the school buses in the district.) Decidedly one of the most peculiar movies I've ever seen. Although it is not entertaining, it is interesting!

It's nothing new really. A horror movie with a lot of singing and dancing. Mix a bit of comedy in there and it might be your cup of tea. The actors give it their best. Sounds like most are either capable (singing-wise) or are being helped in a nice way. The choreography is nice I suppose, though no Bollywood fan will get too excited about any of that. Though not every Bollywood fan would like his song & dance mixed with blood of course.The horror sort of works, though it is pretty predictable (and sort of "easy" to put it mildly). Jokes do not work as they should though and the characters feel very flat indeed. The fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously makes it more watchable than if it wasn't.

If you love slasher movies and hate musicals.. then this film is not for you. But if you LOVE slashers and don't mind some musicals with horror aspects such as 'Sweeney Todd' or 'Rocky Horror' you will love this. The killer is done in a way if the writers mixed Ghostface with Freddy Krueger's humor and puns, then made the killer wear a mask with a similar design to Billy from Saw. The movie contains great actors such as Good will hunting's Minnie Driver and musician Meat Loaf, with songs in the style of an old 'Annie' theater feel and then makes the movie step up to the horror game when the killer has his music moments; singing in the style of an Ozzy Osbourne song.