Forbidden Zone

United States

1982

73 Min

Black and White

1.85:1

English

Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
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PROD Marie-Pascale Elfman, Richard Elfman

SCR Richard Elfman, Matthew Bright, Nick L. Martinson, Nicholas James

CAST Hervé Villechaize, Susan Tyrrell, Gisele Lindley, Jan Stuart Schwartz, Marie-Pascale Elfman, Virginia Rose, Gene Cunningham, Phil Gordon, Hyman Diamond, Matthew Bright, Danny Elfman, Joe Spinell

ED Nicholas James, Martin Nicholson

MUSIC Danny Elfman, Oingo Boingo

ANIM John Muto, Mitchel C. Resnick

Synopsis

Oingo Boingo fans and midnight movie mavens will love this bizarre black-and-white feature packed with music, madness, and members of the Elfman clan. The story revolves around the Hercules family, who live in a house that just happens to hide a secret entrance to the Sixth Dimension in the basement. When daughter Frenchy (Marie-Pascale Elfman) skips school one afternoon, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to the forbidden door, and winds up a prisoner in this alternate world. King Fausto (Herve Villechaize), the diminutive leader of the Sixth Dimension, is enamored with the beautiful young Frenchy and keeps her in the same cell as his favorite concubines, despite the disapproval of Queen Doris (Susan Tyrrell). Frenchy’s brother, Flash (Phil Gordon), follows her into the Forbidden Zone with Gramps (Hyman Diamond) in tow, intending to save her, but they too are captured and must call school chum Squeezit (Toshiro Baloney, aka Matthew Bright) for help. Squeezit tries to assist, but ends up captured and decapitated by Satan (Danny Elfman), though this development doesn’t keep his disembodied noggin from flying about and informing King Fausto that the Queen is planning to dispose of his beloved Frenchy. The appearance of the King’s first wife and the kidnapping of his topless daughter further confuse matters, but everything is wrapped up neatly with an elaborate song and dance number at the conclusion.

Director

Richard Elfman

Richard “Rick” Elfman, (born March 6, 1949 in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, California), is an American film actor, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and magazine publisher.

Richard is the son of novelist Blossom Elfman (aka “Clare Elfman”), and the older brother of musician and film composer Danny Elfman, with whom he founded Oingo Boingo, an eclectic band popular in the 1980s & 1990’s. Richard is brother-in-law of Danny’s wife, Bridget Fonda, father of Bodhi Elfman, father-in-law of Bodhi’s wife, Jenna Elfman, and father and business partner in Buzzine Networks with son Louis Elfman. Richard currently resides in the Hollywood Hills.

Elfman’s first directing project was the cult film Forbidden Zone released in 1980. It was a black and white film version of the theatrical show, starring band members and friends, including Danny singing a modified version of Cab Calloway’s Minnie the Moocher as Satan with lyrics modified for the plot. Richard also appears… read more

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sister chromatid

20Jan13

and besides, how can anyone not enjoy this scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZrkuPIt2bk

sister chromatid

20Jan13

I agree with all the criticisms below, completely and totally, yet... I love it.

lewis_longshanks

15Jun12

I'm not sure if I can rate Forbidden Zone. The whole thing is hit and miss throughout. People are often quick to call the film a weird-er version of The Rocky Horror Show yet while Forbidden Zone has a distinct look, sound and feeling, it rubs off as if performed by an amateur theatre troupe in an empty Dada club. I want to like this film, but as already said elsewhere, it tries too hard.

Matt Burgess

21May12

An cult classic on paper but the end result is just lame and excruciating, cool imagery ruined by painfully try-hard performances (with the exception of Susan Tyrell, baby I still love your crazy ass) all SHRIEKING at the camera for attention "I'M WEIRD! I'M WEIRD! LOVE ME! GIVE ME MIDNITE SCREENINGS!". Totally missing the unpretentious fun and bisexual subversity of Rocky Horror (which it so desperately tries to be)