Late Night Double Feature (Canada - 2015) is the title of a new Canadian horror anthology consisting of "Dinner for Monsters" e "Slit", two segments that are part of a fake TV show, the "Doctor Nasty's Cavalcade of Horror", led by Dr. Nasty. Late Night Double Feature follows in the wake of the most famous episodic horror films, and like Creepshow, in addition to humor married to horror, the segments are introduced by a creepy character, in this case Dr. Nasty who, with sexual innuendo and tight with his sexy nurse, will psychopathically introduce the two episodes "Dinner for Monsters" e "Slit“.
Late Night Double Feature begins as a TV program in which two presenters announce the upcoming horror program "Dr. Nasty's Cavalcade of Horror". The show is interspersed with fake trailers and fictitious advertisements that pleasantly catapult the viewer into a very fascinating horror-demotional dimension during which one has the feeling of watching a real genre show. Dr. Nasty (Brian Scott Carleton), star of "Dr. Nasty's Cavalcade of Horror", he is decked out as a mad doctor, complete with white wig, and is introduced right after the TV commercial along with his sexy nurse Nasty (Jamie Elizabeth Sampson) with whom he enjoys charming the home audience with sexual innuendo and madcap attitudes.
The puzzling character then introduces "Dinner for Monsters", a cannibal movie. The protagonist of the first episode is a chef (Nick Smyth) who is unable to run his father's restaurant, now on the verge of bankruptcy. Soon after a new negative review from a very fussy food critic, the man is approached by an aristocratic couple for a meat dinner to be prepared at their midnight abode. The cook agrees without a second thought, but upon arriving at the place he is horrified when the owner confronts him with the indispensable ingredient of the meal he intends to enjoy in the company of two pairs of friends: human flesh.
Episode with a macabre but veiledly comic theme, especially in the ending. Interesting point of view of the main character having difficulty cooking dinner. Slightly predictable but acceptable ending.
Dinner For Monsters is directed by Zach Ramelan (Curse of the Bog Zombie, "Dead Rush" in Zombieworld) for a screenplay by the director himself along with Raven Cousens and Kelly Michael Stewart.
Principal actors, in addition to Nick Smyth (the cook), include Jeff Sinasac and Raven Cousens. The music is by Nicholas Schnier.
Once the first episode is over, a series of commercials follow and then an interesting behind-the-scenes feature with Dr. Nasty revealing himself to be increasingly insane and sadistic and causing problems for the TV team.Â
At this point the unmanageable doctor introduces "Slit", the second episode. The story focuses on Brad (Colin Price), a man in an unusual profession: he cuts people who wish to be hurt for a variety of reasons in order to regain their psychological balance. Unfortunately, one of his clients is completely out of his mind as well as very dangerous, and the professional will be forced to defend himself so as not to experience on his own skin what he procures for others.
“Slit" strips away the black humor that characterized the first episode and especially the show hosted by Dr. Nasty ("Dr. Nasty's Cavalcade of Horror"), becoming the black heart of the anthology: a pleasantly cruel and disturbing episode.
Slit is written and directed by Torin Langen (Curse of the Bog Zombie, Malleus Maleficarum, Fondue). The cast includes Colin Price, Caleigh Le Grand and Rich Piatkowski. Music is by Stephen Schooley and Justin Cober.
After the second episode we continue with the "Dr. Nasty's Cavalcade of Horror", a program that, in addition to serving as a framework, becomes the focus of Late Night Double Feature. Merit certainly goes to the twisted characters who unravel in an insane story with bloody and unexpected twists.
Definitely deserving of mention is the brilliant opening theme song (by Jay Ryan), which retraces the best ideas from 1980s comic books and terror video games to introduce us to the film's distinctive dimension.
“Dr. Nasty's Cavalcade of Horror" is directed by Navin Ramaswaran (One More for the Road, The Misfortune of Madeline Moody) for a screenplay by Kelly Michael Stewart and R.X. Zammit. The music is by Nicholas Schnier
Brian Carleton, Jamie Elizabeth Sampson, Mike Donis and Jason Tannis make up the cast.
Funny but also cruel, Late Night Double Feature (produced by Kelly Michael Stewart) turns out to be an enjoyable example of an episodic film. This interesting Canadian anthology with a vintage feel and ironic tone, in addition to paying homage to the genre (especially Creepshow), has its own personal journey, a common thread that finds in pain the point of beginning and end.
Immersed in a macabre dimension, the film possesses that touch of irony that dampens the tension built up during viewing. Exception made for "Slit", an episode that leaves no room for humor.Definitely worth seeing.
The fake trailer of Night Clown is by Kelly Michael Stewart, while that of Killer Mortgage Rates!!! is by Jason Tannis. John Michael Forbes, on the other hand, was in charge of the third trailer aired during the fictional program: Encephalopithecus.