Director: Greydon Clark
Writer: Dana Olsen, Michael Spound

I didn’t know quite what to expect from Wacko. Horror comedies are all over the place these days, but they were still a fairly new concept in the 80s. And like many 80s comedies viewed today, I couldn’t help but worry that the jokes would fall entirely flat. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case (mostly).

Wacko begins with a flashback to prom night. Two young lovebirds are torn to shreds by a super-powered lawnmower driven by a killer wearing a pumpkin on his head. Thirteen later, one child who witnessed the gruesome murders is set to attend prom night. The trauma inflicted on her at an early age ensures she freaks out anytime she hears or sees a lawnmower.

The silly story doesn’t really go very far, but it provides a surprising amount of laughs along the way. I for one was fond of their out of left field reference to The Elephant Man. Horror-centric humor reigns supreme and the tropes of the genre ensure that the jokes are still relevant today.

It’s hardly the best horror comedy out there. Still, it’s a decent effort that is more enjoyable than it should be. If nothing else, it’s clear that it was made by people who adore the horror genre.