Watch Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark is a comedic horror film from 1988 that takes viewers on a wild and wacky ride. Starring Cassandra Peterson as the titular character, the film is a strange amalgamation of horror, comedy, and camp that somehow manages to work. The story follows Elvira, a campy, buxom horror hostess who is looking for her big break. When she gets fired from her job, she decides to head to a small town in order to collect an inheritance from a deceased relative. However, when she arrives in the town, she finds that she has inherited a run-down house, a poodle, and a book of spells that could change her life forever.

As Elvira tries to settle into her new town, she encounters a cast of quirky characters, including a teenage girl named Patty (played by Tress MacNeille), a sleazy real estate agent named Vincent Talbot (played by Phil Rubenstein), and a local mechanic named Bob (played by Larry Flash Jenkins). Elvira also attracts the attention of the local "moral majority," a group of conservative townspeople who are appalled by her gothic appearance and risqué behavior.

Meanwhile, Elvira begins to dabble in magic, hoping to use the book of spells to turn her fortunes around. However, her plans are thwarted when the book is stolen by her scheming uncle, who wants to use its power for his own nefarious purposes.

Despite its horror themes, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark is above all a comedy, and a very funny one at that. Peterson's performance as Elvira is pitch-perfect, full of witty one-liners and a pronounced sense of self-awareness. The supporting cast is also excellent, with Rubenstein and Jenkins both turning in standout performances as Elvira's love interests. The film's humor is often absurd and over-the-top, but somehow manages to strike just the right balance between silly and clever.

The film also benefits from its unique blend of horror and comedy. Elvira, Mistress of the Dark pays homage to classic horror films and tropes, but does so in a way that is irreverent and self-aware. The film's horror elements are often played for laughs, but there are still some genuinely creepy moments that will keep viewers on edge.

One of the film's standout scenes involves Elvira performing a magic act at a local Halloween party. The scene is filled with humor, clever wordplay, and impressive practical effects, and serves as a prime example of the film's ability to blend different genres together seamlessly.

Another key aspect of the film is its focus on the character of Elvira herself. Peterson's performance imbues the character with a sense of confidence and agency that is all too rare in female horror protagonists. Elvira is unapologetically herself, and refuses to let anyone else dictate who she should be or how she should act.

Overall, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark is a film that defies categorization. It's a horror movie that's not really scary, a comedy that's not always funny, and a campy romp that still manages to have heart. But somehow, all of these disparate elements come together to create a film that is both entertaining and endearing. If you're a fan of horror-comedies or just looking for something offbeat and fun to watch, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark is definitely worth a look.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark is a 1988 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 43.