Willy's Wonderland

There was a time when horrific cinema turned out to be as frightening as it was original, and featured directors capable of transcending a minor genre to deliver to viewers real horrific roller coasters. In discovering Willy's Wonderland, we find intact all the charm of these genre productions of the 80's and 90's, that is to say, films that do not seek at all costs to impress their audience but to propose a true macabre universe while responding to pre-established specifications (nudity, humor, bloody scenes and an ending that most often foreshadows a sequel). While Danishka Esterhazy's The banana splits movie released in 2019 in the United States (which presented the confrontation between an audience of a TV show The Banana Splits and murderous robots corresponding to the characters of this show) turned out to be a disappointment regarding a too confused scenario, Willy's Wonderland takes this same concept of killer creatures to transplant it in a theme restaurant on which hovers an ancient curse.

The film sets the action in the remote town of Hayesville, Nevada, where a mute drifter who has just been in a car accident with his speedster, a Chevrolet Camaro, is unable to pay for repairs because no ATM in town and the garage owner refuses to be paid by credit card and agrees to work as a janitor for one night at Willy's Wonderland, a family entertainment center that has closed down due to a number of fatal accidents. His household chores turn into a bitter struggle for survival when the restaurant's eight animatronic characters come to life and try to kill him. Teaming up with a group of teenagers who have also found their way into the building, he is forced to defend himself in a desperate race to survive until morning.

Based on a simplistic scenario and taking place essentially in Willy's Wonderland, the film is not only jubilant thanks to the presence of a fit Nicolas Cage, but also does not hesitate to scratch the mentality of some small American towns ready to do anything to keep their calm. The

In a silent role, Nicolas Cage proves here to be a strong argument to take this horrific production out of its frame and turn it into a crazy and terribly effective horror comedy. On the edge of the thriller, a western by this stranger who arrives in a city and is given the task of cleaning up both literally and figuratively, Willy's Wonderland is a good surprise and above all one of the best films with Nicolas Cage seen recently. His character won't say a word, but his behavior, close to a real psychokiller, will reverse the situation with these creatures who turn out to be possessed by the former owner of Willy's Wonderland and his team.

One will also appreciate the great care given to the diabolical characters that are Arty the alligator, Cammy the chameleon, Gus the gorilla, Jackson the knight, Ozzie the ostrich, Sara the mermaid, Tito the turtle and Willy the bellette. Their confrontations with the character played by Nicolas Cage is certainly a reason to see Willy's Wonderland. Violent, outrageous and filmed with talent, these scenes give this independent production an undeniable added value and we can only advise you to discover this film...

Willy's Wonderland
Directed by Kevin Lewis
Produced by Nicolas Cage, Grant Cramer, Jeremy Davis, Mike Nilon, David Ozer, Bryan Lord
Written by G. O. Parsons
Starring Nicolas Cage, Emily Tosta, Ric Reitz, Chris Warner, Kai Kadlec, Christian Delgrosso, Caylee Cowan, Terayle Hill, Jonathan Mercedes, David Sheftell, Beth Grant
Music by Émoi
Cinematography: David Newbert
Edited by Ryan Liebert
Production company: Saturn Films, JD Entertainment, Landafar Entertainment, Landmark Studio Group, Foresight Unlimited
Distributed by Screen Media Films
Release date: February 12, 2021 (United States)
Running time: 82 minutes

Viewed on February 12, 2021

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