CAESAR AND OTTO’S PARANORMAL HALLOWEEN *** U.S.A. 2015 Dir: Dave Campfield 90 mins
Parody films can either be hit or miss but thankfully this one hits the bloody mark more then it misses. Caesar and Otto are back after having a terrible time at summer camp (CAESAR AND OTTO’S SUMMER CAMP MASSACRE), then having an even worse time over Christmas (CAESAR AND OTTO’S DEADLY CHRISTMAS). This time the half brothers are looking after a house for the governor of California after saving the city from the Michael Myers style murderer that has been stalking the streets. As luck would have it the house is haunted and everyone else who has ever looked after the house has either gone mad or killed those within.
Still they have somewhere warm to live for now which gives Otto time to go in search of his long lost mother, Caesar can sit back and write up his next screenplay all while ghostly shenanigans are going on. I would go in to more detail but the plot is so thick this review would turn into an essay. There is enough humour throughout which is very slapstick and horror references to keep even the casual horror fan happy. For those who are wondering what films are referenced here is just a few: THE CONJURING, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, THE SHINING, THE EXORCIST, SINISTER, INSIDIOUS, HALLOWEEN, POLTERGEIST and most likely a ton more. There is also a whole host of cameos from Debbie Rochon, Tiffany Shepis, Brinke Stevens, Felissa Rose and Vernon Wells just to name a few. This is an enjoyable film and you don’t need to have seen the previous films to enjoy it. Get a few friends around, sit down and laugh along with Caesar and Otto as you try to spot the horror references within all the calamity.
Review by Peter ‘Witchfinder‘ Hopkins