PSYCHO GOREMAN (2020) CHEESY, CAMPY AND ULTIMATELY HILARIOUS. MOVIE REVIEW

Bizarre 80s homage.

Psycho Goreman is a tribute to those who were kids in the 80s. The ones who grew up watching children’s adventure films, but who at the same time watched gory slasher flicks. Those who thought that the blood splattering-clumsy creatures’ practical effects were the best. Along comes Steven Konstanski. A nostalgic creator with a limited budget and a strong influence on Rick and Morty brings us this bizarre and unorthodox movie.

Tiny force of nature meets ancient evil.

An evil, ancient, extremely powerful being was defeated and imprisoned by the forces of good. If this creature ever manages to escape this prison it may be the end of all existence in the universe. That’s what the initial titles tell us. We got to know Mimi and Luke,  sister and brother playing in their backyard. While Luke is meditative and noble, Mimi is a small force of nature. She is bossy, unpredictable, and slightly out of her mind.

As expected, the children release the evil being. Upon freeing the creature, Mimi keeps in her control a strange shiny gem. By possessing this stone, Mimi can control this being who has no choice but to obey, no matter how ridiculous Mimi’s orders may be. The beings who imprisoned this evil entity find out about the escape and decide they have to do something about it. Although their intentions are not what they seem, Mimi plays with her new and evil pet. A crazy story is about to unfold.

Peculiar low budget film.

The story is so peculiar that the viewer does not know where it will go. And more significant, how far it will go. It’s an exercise on how to make a low-budget movie. Aspiring to mesh all the campy elements that can be embedded together into a single film. Mita Josee Hanna is a delight as the controlling, immutable, superfluous, and lovable Mimi. Her performance is energetic, frenzy, and manic. Owen Myre as her long-suffering brother Luke makes for an excellent balance to the outrageous Mimi.

Their parents seem to be taken directly from the script of Rick and Morty, and the actors interpret their characters with the spirit required for this type of B-by-design movie. The horror-comedy combination is excellently brought to the screen by Konstanski. The script, also written by him, touches all the bases of cinema B. It is cheesy, campy, gory, and excessive. And the best part is, it’s insanely funny.

It is all about the practical effects.

The effects are principally practical. Made this way because of the low budget and the intention of resembling a cheap movie from the 80s. And they achieve this goal with a high grade. Konstanski has previously worked in a lot of movies in the makeup department. The creatures are as imaginative as they are ridiculous. The overall decor is typical of a cheap TV show. A good amount of buckets of blood would make any slasher movie of that decade proud. Even the soundtrack has that 80s low-budget feeling.

Not for everyone.

The viewer has to let himself go on this out-of-the-ordinary journey. It’s certainly not a film that everyone will like. But it is made like this, not to please everyone. Critics will argue that its aimed audience is not well identified, whether for children in an adventure film or adults looking for a gore flick. But they certainly do know. Psycho Goreman is aimed at those who were kids in the 80’s-early 90’s era and grew up watching both kinds of films. In this age of political correctness, those who dare to escape from the creative limits this imposes, watch Rick and Morty and their daring stories. Those same people who enjoy that brand of crazy, bizarre, and irreverent stories are the ones who will appreciate Psycho Goreman

Delirium score