“Forbidden Zone” Podcast Movie Review

By Daniel Barnes on April 14, 2020

Forbidden Zone – Dare Daniel Podcast Episode 61

“It’s an Elfman movie. Who could ask for more?”

Recorded pre-quarantine, Daniel and Corky travel to the sixth dimension to review Forbidden Zone. The film was a box office failure that found a long second life as a midnight movie. But does Forbidden Zone deserve to stick around, or should we send it back up the anus of an underground giant?

In Richard Elfman’s gleefully transgressive, manic-deconstructionist vision, Susan Tyrell and Herve Villechaize rule the sixth dimension. Crazy random shit cakes the walls of the film, including surreal music numbers, silent-movie intertitles, and noxious racial stereotypes. It’s frequently offensive and never clever, but it remains a unique and strangely magical movie.

Elsewhere, Daniel and Corky discuss local pimps, frog butlers, human chandeliers and electrified dildos.

NEW DARES

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (Ryan L. Terry)

Snowpiercer (Matthew Dougherty)

FORBIDDEN ZONE FACTS AND FIGURES

Critic scores: 89 on Rotten Tomatoes; 64 on Metacritic

This week’s craft beer: Heretic Brewing’s You Can’t Handle the Juice NE DIPA (8.5% ABV)

This week’s darer: Alex Shewmaker

Why did Alex dare Daniel and Corky to watch Forbidden Zone? “Wow! Where to begin! Danny Elfman not only does the music but also plays satan in the “sixth dimension.” What more could you ask for!?!?”

IMDB synopsis: “The bizarre and musical tale of a girl who travels to another dimension through the gateway found in her family’s basement.”

This week’s referenced movies: The Beautician and the Beast; China Salesman; Parasite; Weird Science; Freeway; Tiptoes; The Rocky Horror Picture Show; Eraserhead; Pink Flamingos; Shock Treatment; Caligula; Hellzapoppin; The VelociPastor; Rock ‘n’ Roll High School; Sleepaway Camp; Rocky; The Godfather; The Godfather Part II; Citizen Kane;