REVIEW: Stage Fright (2014)

I cannot do scary movies. Given how often my hands seem to find themselves in front of my eyes, it could be argued that I’ve never watched a horror film all the way through. But alas, October is quickly approaching, and scary movies are an important part of Halloween, so a wuss like me is charged with the task of finding a “not so scary” scary movie, when we happen to find ourselves in the mood. So, find yourself in similar situation, my answer for you is the movie Stage Fright (2014).

The movie begins opening night of a play called, The Haunting of the Opera, and follows the play’s resurrection to a financially struggling summer theater camp. The two camp cooks, Camilla (Allie MacDonald) and Buddy (Douglas Smith), fall under the care of camp manager Roger McCall (Michael Lee Aday, also known as Meatloaf) and former flame of Buddy and Camilla’s mother. Their mother, played by Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), was the original lead actress during the play’s Broadway opening night, only to be stabbed to death in her dressing room by the Opera Ghost. Ten years later, the camp decides to do The Haunting of the Opera with a twist, prompting young Camilla to audition for the role that her mother once filled. The campers spend weeks preparing for the play only to have a brutal murder cast a shadow over opening night; however, the show must go on. As opening night begins, Camilla discovers more mutilated corpses of some of the campers, and unmasks the killer, all while the show is still going on. Camilla is finally able to stumble back into the play in its last scene and receives an enthusiastic applause, while covered in someone else’s blood.

Stage Fright falls somewhere in between fun campy horror film and pure ridiculousness. Much like the movie Scream (1996), a movie with common themes, Stage Fright incorporates some slashing, unorthodox killing, and a goofy looking masked villain with a thirst for revenge. Nevertheless, Stage Fright also brings some originality to the film. Given the setting of the movie, several choreographed musical numbers take place. The killer is even shown playing the guitar and singing at some points, which if I’m being honest, were the weirdest and sometimes the scariest portions of the movie.

My reason for watching Stage Fright was to find a movie that fit the horror genre that I could actually sit through without leaving the room out of fright. I was definitely able to do that during this movie, but there were still moments where I jumped in my seat, muttered “oh my God”, and diverted my eyes. I am not saying this is a good movie. However, the musical elements added a twist that I have never seen in a horror film, and it not only reminds you that Meatloaf is still alive, but that he can actually act decently well. If you are a hardcore scary movie lover, this movie won’t do it for you, and you will probably hate it. If you’re like me, this movie won’t make you piss yourself, which is all I really asked for. 

Review by: Morgan Fisher
Rating: 2.5/5