Beloved Horror Icon Stars In Fan-Favorite 1980s Bomb Streaming Now
Cassandra Peterson made her name as one of horror’s most iconic hostesses, introducing scores of B-level science fiction and monster movies to audiences every week. In 1988, Peterson, under her hostess persona “Elvira,” starred in her own horror film called Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. And just like the majority of the films that she introduced on her late-night show, hers was also a financial bomb.
Fate Helps Elvira
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark follows a fictionalized version of the horror hostess as she’s on the set of her show in Los Angeles. After being forced to endure sexual insults from the station’s new investor, Elvira storms away from her job with her sights set on having her own act in Las Vegas.
The only thing stopping her is the $50,000 she needs to make her new dream a reality.
Fate steps in as Elvira receives notice that she is the beneficiary of part of her great-aunt Morgana’s estate.
Elvira travels to her deceased relative’s hometown of Fallwell, MA and discovers that she is now the sole owner of a run-down mansion, an old recipe book, and her aunt’s pet poodle.
The Adults Hate Her, The Kids Love Her
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark sees its star struggle to sell the mansion to raise the money for Vegas, all while being an outcast in the uptight little town whose citizens make the Pilgrims seem sensible. While Elvira isn’t accepted among the adults in her new community, the high school kids love her no BS attitude and sexy attire, much to the chagrin of their parents.
One night, Elvira is making dinner for the one man in town that hasn’t turned his nose up at her. When using ingredients specified in her inherited cookbook, she mistakenly conjures a monster inside the pot. As it turns out, the recipe book is a book of spells that Elvira’s aunt wished her to secretly have.
She’s Forced To Step Up
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark pits the newcomer in town against the religious townsfolk who soon come to believe that Elvira is a witch. Rabid church folks, an evil warlock, and the ex-girlfriend of her new beau all combine to make Elvira’s time in her new town a living Hell as they conspire to hunt her down and burn her at the stake for witchcraft.
Elvira is finally put into a position where she needs to tap into what she hopes is latent powers to save herself and her new boyfriend from certain death.
Over The Top Fun
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is the ultimate in fun comedic horror films, the over-the-top Cassandra Peterson giving the best of herself and her brand of off-color, tongue in cheek humor to get good laughs. She’s the queen of the comeback and a strong character that isn’t about to put up with any of the traditional garbage that will hold her back from her dreams.
Stream It Now
GFR SCORE
The movie is enjoyable the way most immature horror comedies are; plenty of sophomoric humor, lots of emphasis on the main character’s bosom, and good scenes that depict the best of revenge. Elvira: Mistress of the Dark was a financial bomb for sure, coming in $2 million under its $7.5 million budget, but still a movie worth the laughs.
You can stream Elvira: Mistress of the Dark for free with Tubi and Pluto or rent it On Demand with Prime and Google Play.
