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SATAN'S STORYBOOK (1989)
Directed by Michael Rider
Telavista DVD
Reviewed 04.03.08
Review by Joseph A. Ziemba
THE FILM
If you are an alcoholic clown about
to hang yourself, DON'T DO IT!!
A Fat Sheriff cameo is on the way.
And that's something to live for.
Gibberish is not an acquired taste.
Really, it's all in the delivery.
Take Satan's Storybook,
for instance. Shot on video (SOV)
and proud of it, the film focuses
exclusively on conversational gobbledygook
concerning "prophecies",
"The Dark Realm", and
good ol' Death. Pointless, right?
Right. However, when those conversing
are clad in lambswool Satan-chaps,
weathered ninja costumes, jester
gear, and Exodus t-shirts, attentiveness
is suddenly widened. Add catchphrases
such as "Game time!" and
"YA BUTTFUCK!" and I'm
officially on board. Nice work,
SS.
Presented as an anthology, Satan's
Storybook is really just two
stories and...something else. First,
the first: a "wraparound"
series of events which includes
smoke machines, a ninja warrior
(porn star Ginger Lynn Allen), The
Devil (lambswool knickers, big goat
head), and The Devil's Jester (he
does little dances). There's a lot
of death-philosophizing here, but
The Devil's unintelligible Destro
voice does nothing for the cause.
Then, an '84 metalhead breaks into
a suburban house and murders a family.
It's pretty callous until the police
interrogation scenes, which are,
quite frankly, hilarious. Finally,
an alcoholic clown loses his job
and hangs himself, only to come
face-to-face with an existential
demon, who is also a clown. They
talk for a long time. Is this life?
Is this death? Can the Sheriff's
abdomen get any bigger?
A small void exists between "Super
Mario Brothers On Ice" and
an evening at Medieval Times. Consider
it filled. Satan's Storybook
is meant to be taken seriously.
I think. Therefore, by the power
vested in thine camcorder, the defective
structure, theatrics, and presentation
run tantamount with that sincerity.
This unlikely collaboration leads
to an experience that originates
on Mother Earth, but clearly ends
up in galaxies unknown. And that's
what we want. While SS
is nothing compared to the prodigious
sweat-psych of Boarding
House, the constant close-ups,
grim tone, and ambitious-yet-crappy
costumes resonate with that familiar
stench. Even when you're half-asleep.
Lastly, If, as an alcoholic clown,
you don't agree with this interpretation
of Satan's Storybook, you
are a huge B.F. Sorry.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
This is great. The audio doesn't
always align properly, fuzz is thick
as lambswool (hey hey!), and visuals
recall the sweet tickle of a vintage
VHS dub. Every part of me is smiling.
Especially after staring at that
remarkable cover art for twenty
minutes.
EXTRAS
There's something called "pics"
on the menu, but I didn't click
on it. Would you? Doubtful.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Live and let live, my friends. Satan's
Storybook is cheap, eager,
and blissfully unaware that it is
a complete nutcase. Though light
on juicy bits and occasionally a
drag, the film's faith in other-wordly
tactlessness spells SOV victory.
Please, see it soon. |
Saving lives, one day at a time
Dudes nite in
Far, far too late
Ultra sloshed
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