Cinema Fiasco: Night Of The Lepus

It's not quite accurate to say that Geoff Wallis and Janet McLeod of Cinema Fiasco ridicule bad movies, since the movies practically do that themselves. Consider Friday evening's film at Cinema Nova, Night of the Lepus, a “horror” film about giant, killer rabbits wreaking havoc across the American West. It's amazing that it was produced in the first place, and more so that it actually features big-name Hollywood stars (Janet Leigh, what were you thinking?). There are no scares to speak of, and the attempts to make cute little bunnies seem large, much less frightening, are laughable.

 As bad as this film is, Wallis and McLeod redeem it with their acerbic wit. Together, they talk over the film, calling attention to its many faults, exchanging zingers, and expressing disbelief at the sheer badness of the film. McLeod even adds some inventive props. The result is a highly engaging affair that keeps the audience engrossed throughout the film. To this end, Cinema Fiasco succeeds not only by the quality of their critiques but by fostering a sense of community in the theatre.

Next week, Cinema Fiasco will be razzing Reptilicus, a Danish film about a giant prehistoric reptile. The movie will be bad. Wallis and McLeod, on the other hand, will bring their best.