Forbidden Zone (Richard Elfman, 1980)

It was a recent viewing of Corpse Bride (Tim Burton, 2005) that actually stirred me to want to watch Forbidden Zone again. The last time I saw this film was probably 15 years ago. The common ties between the films: they both paint reality as hum drum and hades or some other dimension as being more colorful; and they both are scored by Danny Elfman who also makes a singing appearance in each. Forbidden Zone was actually directed by Elfman's brother. The film was meant to be a vehicle for the Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo to show off their theatrics. It is that. The film itself if cabaret, it's Caligari, it's swing (before swing was hip again), it's whacked, a bit perverse, allout bizarre, totally low budget, midnight movie kind of fare. This is not great film making, great plot or great cinema. It is interesting if you were ever a Oingo Boingo fan (especially some of the extras on the disc) or a Danny Elfman fan or just want to step on a low-budget traveling fair ride into "The Sixth Dimension" where King Fausto (Herve Villechaize - "da plane, da plane") and his robust commandeering Queen Doris (Susan Tyrrell) await you. If anything skip through to the music numbers as they romp through Cab Calloway, Josephine Baker and other cabaret classics. The film is rated R for language and some character clotheslessness.