WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (2013)
In 1987 channel WNUF premiered what was to be a groundbreaking Halloween special featuring reporter Frank Stewart venturing into the abandoned Webber House where horrible murders took place. Accompanying him was the famous husband and wife paranormal investigation team of Louis and Claire Berger. Their goal? To get to the bottom of the various rumors that the house is haunted by conducting the first live on-air seance and either prove or debunk the claims of the supernatural for viewers at home. But something went wrong, very wrong, and the broadcast was wiped from public memory never to be seen again...until now.
With a premise like that you’d think this is just another found footage horror movie but what the WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL manages to do is supply laughs, nostalgia, and tension through an incredibly accurate re-creation of an ‘80s news broadcast complete with a variety of commercials for everything from upcoming television broadcasts to those propaganda commercials that take over whenever a local election is happening.
The simplest and best way to describe WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL is fun. It’s an absolute treat for anyone who has memories of the days of VHS recordings, Halloween specials and the general lo-fi quality of broadcasts from the era. Where a lot of the humor really stems from is not just how accurate the film is, but just how earnest it is in devotion to its premise.
\Throughout the film I couldn’t help but think of the fake commercials you’d see on TIM AND ERIC AWESOME SHOW GREAT JOB but whereas those commercials made it fairly obvious you were watching a parody, WNUF does not. Advertisements for Halloween make-up kits (using footage from an actual ‘80s Halloween make-up tutorial video), the late night movie, and the local pumpkin patch don’t feel out of place at all and after the first couple of minutes it’s genuinely difficult to remember that you’re watching something completely fictional.
I think a majority of us remember seeing advertisements for over the phone psychic services from the likes of Miss Cleo and that’s even recreated here with incredible accuracy.
The truly admirable thing about this film is that it never decides to just break the illusion for any reason. There is no specific scene where it suddenly becomes obvious this is all fictional and that is something to be commended when you consider how many retro-themed parodies lean into pointing out the absurdities of the way things were in the past.
That isn’t to say the comedy is all there is to this film from Chris LaMartina and his other writers/directors because, despite the fun tone of nostalgia made by commercials for shows like Galaxy Pilot And The Lazer Brigade and the news report on the dentist running a “cash for candy” promotion, there is a genuine sense of dread to WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL.
We know something happened but we don’t know what and as the film steadily heads towards its conclusion, it was hard for me to not be on the edge of my seat. When the crew finally enters the house there is a general feeling that something is wrong and that feeling continues to build as things go more and more off the rails.
By that point in the movie you’re so invested in the reality it’s created that you find yourself watching doorways and hallways in the camera’s view, waiting for something to finally pop out or creep by. While it’s probably not going to be enough to keep you up at night, it’s got a really interesting horror tone to it that I genuinely appreciated.
If there is one major component though that makes WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL work it’s Frank Stewart, WNUF’s man on the scene who will be leading the excursion into the supposedly haunted Webber House. Played perfectly by Paul Fahrenkopf, Frank is a man who is equal parts likable and a jerk. While he clearly is a professional, he’s also got a bit of an attitude to him that makes for entertaining interactions with the various bystanders outside looking to get some time on the air, not to mention brief asides to the paranormal investigators and other staff of WNUF. He has a hint of snark to his tone in his replies when someone says something he clearly thinks is fantastical or idiotic, that you can’t help but laugh at his derision.
Much like with everything else in the movie, you believe this is actually a man reporting the news, not an anchor playing a parody of a reporter. That believability really shines when things start to go wrong and their foray into the house becomes genuinely scary. Despite Frank’s attitude towards others at times, you still worry for him and the rest of the people on the journey.
WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL is a fantastic throwback and with the love for analog based horror nowadays thanks to popular web series such as Local 58 and The Walten Files it’s definitely worth checking out. It’s not for everyone and I can’t blame anyone for not getting into it. It can be slow, the authenticity might wear thin after a point when a commercial interrupts what seems like is going to be a genuinely scary moment and honestly if you don’t have much of a fondness for this kind of style this probably won’t change your mind. But if you sit down, turn the lights off, toss your phone away, and let it get its hooks into you—it’s an incredibly fun ride. If anything I feel it would be fun to put this on at a Halloween party and see if over time people don’t get drawn in by its quality lo-fi charms and believe it was an actual broadcast.
Here’s hoping we can get a sequel which Chris LaMartina is crowdunding right now! (Please click to learn more and donate)
You can watch WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL streaming on Shudder.
Terror Vision recently put out a great new Blu-ray of WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL, along with its soundtrack on cassette and vinyl. All can be found and purchased at Vinegar Syndrome.
