Heckle

It had been a long time since the 80’s-star Steve Guttenberg had almost completely disappeared from American cinema. His presence in many unsuccessful independent films had finally darkened his aura. However, his presence in the film saga Police Academy (four films about him), Cocoon (1985), Cocoon: The Return (1988), Short Circuit (1986) and other successful films that made him one of the most adored American stars of the 80s is still remembered. We are therefore surprised to discover Steve Guttenberg in the casting of one of the films proposed for the British virtual festival Frighfest.

Heckle, directed by Martyn Pick and based on a screenplay by Airell Anthony Hayles, allows Steve Guttenberg to play a character, Ray Kelly, who, like him, enjoyed worldwide success but who was embittered by life and ended his career as a simple stand up comedian in small theaters before coming to a tragic end. This admittedly secondary character in Heckle is at the center of the story and has a rather surprising relationship with a young artist, Joe Johnson, also a stand-up comedian, who seems to be becoming more and more successful to the point of having signed up to be in a film.

At the height of his stand-up art, Joe Johnson decides to share a Halloween weekend evening with a group of friends. They choose the theme of a retro 1980s party and jokingly suggest that if they get drunk, stoned and behave badly enough, they will hopefully attract their own psycho killer. But the joke is suddenly very strong for them, as they in turn find themselves in the hands of an unwanted guest who has come to turn their horror fantasy into a terrifying reality.

Heckle thus resembles a psychological thriller in which an actor is harassed by a violent psychopathic killer, so we will know during the denouement what explains his behavior and especially the link between Ray Kelly and Joe kohnson. The inspired direction of director Martyn Pick who signs here his fourth film after Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie (2010), Evil Never dies (2014), Blood clots (2018) allows us to watch Heckle with a certain pleasure. The final outcome is particularly successful and easily imposes Heckle as one of the must-see films in the official selection of the Frighest virtual festival.

Heckle
Directed by Martyn Pick
Produced by Airell Anthony Hayles, Jane Ledsom, Mike Willoughby
Written by Airell Anthony Hayles
Starring Steve Guttenberg, Clark Gable, Toyah Wilcox, Nicholas Vince
Music by Patrick Savage, Holeg Spies
Cinematography: Mark Barrs, Vince Knight
Edited by Jake West
Release date: October 24, 2020 (UK)
Running time: 81 minutes

Viewed on October 18, 202 (press screener)

Mulder's Mark: