FORGOTTEN HORRORS: Playroom (1990)

I came across a VHS of Playroom at a thrift store and was immediately compelled to buy it.  Though it appeared to be your average run-of-the-mill straight-to-video horror flick, three things made it stand out.  One: the director, Manny Coto, is a veteran of TV and went on to contribute to "Tales from the Crypt" and "24." Two: the presence of Vincent Schiavelli, recognizable as the gangly helpful ghost from Ghost as well as the methodical hit man from Tomorrow Never Dies, is always welcome.  Three: close examination of the back of the box reveals that the film was written--no lie--by Jackie Earle Haley.

Haley was predominantly known at this point for playing the rebel Kelly Leak in The Bad News Bears, and his screenplay for Playroom portrays a similarly dastardly view of childhood.  Treated as a hindrance by his archaeologist father while staying at an excavation site, young Chris wakes up one night to find his entire family murdered in their sleep.  Years later, Chris (now played by Christopher McDonald) heads back to the same Croatian castle to finish his father's job of discovering an ancient catacomb.  He brings along his girlfriend (Lisa Aliff), as well as a photographer (James Purcell) and his wife (Jamie Rose).  But Chris soon becomes haunted by the same spirits which may have visited him in his childhood.

Though it doesn't tread any new ground, Playroom is briskly paced and has a surprising sense of humor.  Much of the humor is provided by Schiavelli, who plays the man accused of killing Chris's family, now confined to an insane asylum.  His hulking physique makes his character immediately imposing, yet Schiavelli plays him as a personable, practical gent, lending the movie some class.  Some of his dialogue is so funny that he seems to sit at a right angle to the film, much in the same way that Christopher Walken does.  His reading of the line, "Okay, enough fooling around," is one of the biggest laughs in any horror movie.

McDonald is also a welcome presence as the haunted protagonist.  He makes a believable transition between ambitious archaeologist and loony madman.  Though he's given the impossible task of playing a convincing man-child, he pulls it off without seeming silly.  Well, he's a little bit silly.

Playroom is a surprising delight for horror fans, and even delivers a few unique moments yet unseen in a horror movie (Ever seen a maniac killer eat his own boogers?).  It rises far above the average low-budget scare flick, thanks to good performances and exceptional writing.

*** out of ****

NOTE: Though Playroom is not currently available on DVD, someone has made the entire film available on YouTube.  I've linked to it above and I'd recommend any horror fan take a look.