Mania Grade: C+
Disc Grade: B
Reviewed Format: DVD
Rated: Not Rated
Stars: Melissa Baum, Reggie Bannister, Andi Wenning, William Mills, Forrest J. Ackerman
Writer: Paul Bunnell
Director: Paul Bunnell
Distributor: Elite Entertainment
Original Year of Release: 1994
Retail Price: $19.95
Extras: audio commentary; short; interview

Buy it now!

Related Links

0

THAT LITTLE MONSTER

Film fans, we know our own and within four seconds of THAT LITTLE MONSTER the true fanatic will recognize director Mr. Bunnell as a lover and incorporator of all we hold dear with a reverential tone that we so respect.

The film was originally planned to be an installment on Laurel Entertainment's (TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE) syndicated show MONSTERS, until lady fortune frowned upon Bunnell and cut down the producer who was to give him the gig. A real trooper, Bunnell had faith in his story and 30,000 dollars and some three years later THAT LITTLE MONSTER was fully realized and ready to be shown. An homage to the films of the '30s, '40s and '50s (and not just the horror ones mind you), the film functions, and the director confesses to this in his commentary, more as a style piece than a straightforward narrative, but more on that later.

Jamie (Melissa Baum) is a foreign student seeking a job as a babysitter. After an interview she gets the job, but there is one catch: the baby is a bit of a "monster." On her first day of sitting, Jamie discovers how "hellish" the child is and pandemonium ensues.

Bunnell's film is filled with intriguing images and interesting moments, but overall falls oddly flat. There is certainly a lot of fun being had and there are several in-jokes and odes that a cinema hound will heartily appreciate, but as a movie it feels like David Lynch-lite. Though in a way I feel that this comparison is misleading in that both auteurs are simply pulling from the same pool of pre-'60s esoterica. Regardless, as a visual stylist Bunnell falls into the trap of weird for weird's sake and as a result what starts out as a fairly compelling piece eventually begins to break down to feel like a collage of "strange" images that lack flow and relevance. That said, I feel the film is worth a look for the enthusiasts of tone poems and pure cinema who will likely find much to discuss. (Incidentally, if you do see and enjoy THAT LITTLE MONSTER and are looking for other avant-garde type offerings I heartily suggest Rene Clair's ENTR'ACTE, Luis Buñuel & Salvador Dalí's UN CHIEN ANDALOU, and, surprise, David Lynch's ERASERHEAD.)

While I personally felt that THAT LITTLE MONSTER was a moderately engaging misfire, I was rather delighted by another of Bunnell's pieces, "The Visitant." This short 19 minute film made in 1981 is an impressive piece of low budget filmmaking, recalling the feel of the early '80s work of Lucio Fulci. An unnerving little horror story that, while essentially a rather well worn cliché, manages to provide some unnerving images and better yet some first rate jumps, the film is certainly worth a B rating. This gem makes one wish for more Bunnell. It is worth renting the DVD to see; just watch it with the lights out.

Elite Entertainment is one of the better micro-DVD outfits and they do a good job with the release of THAT LITTLE MONSTER, providing a good quality transfer from a nice print; sound is also good.

The extras include a feature length commentary with writer/director Bunnell and editor/producer Carl Mastromarino. The two provide some intriguing bits on the production of this independent feature, but leave one guessing as to how they scored the super secret mega-huge star who appears at the end in a cameo.

There is an interview segment from the show THE BEST LIST on which Bunnell proves himself a comedian in the hyperactive vein, a la Jerry Lewis (but not as smug).

An interesting note: the liner notes were written by Grammy award winner and horror icon Angus Scrimm.