First-time director Dan Fogler’s horror homage effort Hysterical Psycho has a very unique theatrical style going for it. The meta-horror comedy has a lot of spirit but ultimately falls flat by trying to do too much.
A theater troupe travels to Moon Lake for a getaway. Unbeknownst to them, the lake emits high levels of lunar radiation which drives people insane. The cast of characters falls prey to this radiation and this is where the bloody chaos ensues.
Fogler devised this during a stint on an off-Broadway show, and the theatrics involved is indicative of that. There’s a lot of over-the-top humor here, yet it doesn’t strike the horror-comedy balance quite as well as films like Shaun of the Dead and Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil. Also, Fogler tries shoehorning in homages to so many films (the Evil Dead films, Cabin in the Woods, and other slashers) that he doesn’t come off with anything truly unique to say.
Still, Fogler employs a lot of creative and unusual techniques. He voices a cartoon narrator who provides exposition during the film’s proceedings. Random interjections and story cuts are interspersed throughout the film (like a play would employ). However, there is no real cohesion here. Fans of horror movies and parodies will have a lot to enjoy, but that’s the limit of the film’s intended audience. Media librarians can consider this title if patrons have a particular interest in the horror comedy genre.