POPCORN FRIGHTS brings unique and unforgettable films every year, and 2023 brought quite a bit of playfulness to their line-up. ELDRITCH, USA follows Geoff (Graham Weldin), a small-town dreamer aspiring to be a star reporter, who is suddenly thrust into the spotlight when his brother (the real star reporter) Rich (Andy Phinney) dies in a tragic accident. What follows is a quirky and captivating adventure as Geoff, accompanied by his best friend Colin (Cameron Perry), seeks to uncover a local cult’s power to resurrect the dead. Soon, more and more undead start appearing, and we see the behavior between the living and the undead differs in only one slight way: how much human flesh they consume. Directors Ryan Smith and Tyler Foreman make their East Coast Premiere with ELDRITCH, USA, which is a delightful blend of midwestern Lovecraftian horror and musical charm.

Smith and Forman’s H.P. Lovecraft-inspired musical-horror-comedy concoction introduces Geoff and his egotistical brother Rich, a newscaster with a charmingly inflated ego. Amidst sibling rivalry and internal drama, things take a spooky turn, but still stay light and comical with musical numbers that peek into the characters’ thoughts. The movie’s unique premise combines horror and musical elements seamlessly, thanks to the indie band Fox Royale’s anthemic music. While the songs are shorter and more conversational, they effectively contribute to the film’s whimsical atmosphere. The songwriters Smith and Nathan Hurley play with musical conventions, infusing the movie with a CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL charm that works in its favor. Some of the choreography looks like awkward grade schoolers embarrassed to perform before their parents, but the stiff off-beat dance moves feel surprisingly appropriate for the bizarre cast of characters who live in Eldritch. And with such finger (and bone) snapping songs as “I got Away with Murder,” “Morals are your Friend,” and “Kill your way to the Top” your undead head will be bopping and swaying to the music long after the movie ends.

Spawned from a Kickstarter cauldron, Smith’s eccentric creation might not jive with mainstream tastes, yet for cult film aficionados, ELDRITCH is a mind-bending song-and-dance you won’t soon forget. And despite its modest budget, ELDRITCH cleverly uses its limitations to its advantage. The intentionally laughable blue hue of the undead characters (most likely paying homage to George Romero’s style) stands out as a creative choice. The film’s originality shines through as it weaves an engaging narrative while avoiding excessive reliance on horror references. With comedy gold performances from McNew and Phinney, the film’s shoestring budget becomes part of its playful charm. While some moments feel as long as an ancient incantation, and the acting varies like mystical vibes, the darkly comedic and delightfully strange ELDRITCH showcases the magic of indie creativity.

ELDRITCH, USA revels in its modest budget and DIY approach throughout its 108-minute runtime. Despite its apparent limitations, there’s an endearing charm to its ambitious, campy B-movie vibe, making the film almost reminiscent of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS or even Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog. The fun songs and the deliberate blue-tinted campiness mitigates shortcomings like acting and dancing. Though the film’s length can occasionally be felt, ELDRITCH, USA offers a darkly comedic and wonderfully weird experience that stands as a testament to diverse cinematic creativity, even if it might not appeal to mainstream tastes. Its campy, low-budget appeal is sure to resonate with horror fans. And while many might not place ELDRITCH on the same level as ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE, audiences will still eagerly anticipate its distribution, and the only remaining question is “when will the soundtrack be available for streaming?”

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Amylou Ahava

Amylou Ahava is a PhD student and resident punk rocker. She has studied, taught, and annoyed landlords on three continents and hopes to add a fourth in the future. The childhood dream of being a horror host stemmed into a lifetime love of everything scary and now has led to a focus on disability studies in American horror literature and film. She has been teaching since 2009 and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. She is a pet parent of 7 and hobbies include horror movies, waffles, and books.

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Tags: Andy Phinney, Anna and the Apocalypse, Cameron Perry, Cannibal the Musical, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Eldritch USA, Fox Royale, Graham Weldin, H.P. Lovecraft, Horror Comedy, Little Shop of Horrors, Lovecraft, Nathan Hurley, Popcorn Frights, Ryan Smith, Tyler Foreman, Westan McNew