TERROR IN THE AISLES (1984)



TERROR IN THE AISLES video artwork


DONALD PLEASENCE.....Himself
NANCY ALLEN.....Herself

Directed by ANDREW J. KUEHN
Written by MARGERY DOPPELT
Produced by STEPHEN J. NETBURN and ANDREW J. KUEHN


REVIEW BY VINCENT CANBY


Terror in the Aisles, which opens today at the Criterion and other theaters, poses as a serious exploration of the methods and effects of horror and suspense films. That it looks more like a feature-length trailer for almost 75 such films is not surprising---everyone who worked on it is associated with Kaleidoscope Films, one of the industry's most successful producers of trailers.

Donald Pleasence and Nancy Allen, both of whom have put in time in horror films, sit in a simulated movie theater audience and, from time to time, comment on the endless film clips we see. What they have to say is pretty dumb. More to the point is an interview with Alfred Hitchcock, in which he talks with a good deal of wit about the things he always did best.

The film is mostly a compilation of sequences from other people's movies that, more effectively than necessary, demonstrate the cliches of the genre. After we've seen a number of people murdered in showers, including the classic scene from Hitchcock's Psycho, Miss Allen comments that the bathroom seems to be the most dangerous room in any house. She also notes that women, "unfortunately," are the principal vicitms.

There's one funny, fast sequence that cuts together a lot of clips in which women---and a few men---are seen desperately dashing around houses and apartments attempting to lock doors and windows against psychopathic maniacs carrying axes, knives, hammers, ice picks, chain saws and other tools of their trade. The rest is neither entertaining nor informative.

Because Terror in the Aisles is composed entirely of climaxes, it has none of its own.

Among the films that have been ransacked are Jaws, The Shining, Scanners, Marathon Man, Halloween, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, The Bride of Frankenstein, Dressed to Kill, Carrie, Klute and Alien.



From the October 26, 1984 edition of THE NEW YORK TIMES.

Review © 1984 THE NEW YORK TIMES. All Rights Reserved.

Video artwork © 1985 MCA HOME VIDEO. All Rights Reserved.

Title and logo designed by Karen Rappaport




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