SCREAMBOOK (1984) BAD MOVIE REVIEW

SCREAMBOOK (1984) – Ever see a feature length horror film written, produced and directed by a 13-year-old? And with nearly all the roles – of all ages – played by fellow teenagers? Obviously, I’ll be grading this flick on a curve in this review.

This anthology movie was the very first product of the legendary “horror himbo” Joe Zaso. Not Zasa like in Godfather III, but Zaso. An enterprising teenager in the 1980s, Zaso formed his first production company at age 16 and is to this day active in the film industry.     

Joe is also a bodybuilder and keeps himself in top condition which is how he acquired the “himbo” nickname over the decades. His productions are still unpretentious B-movies but this review deals with his very primitive first effort, so as I mentioned above, it’s not fair to look at it like it was a professional piece of work. 

It’s also not fair to hold it against Screambook that it rather shamelessly imitates Creepshow, right down to its use of comic book panels going into and out of each segment of the anthology. The teens in all the roles look comical when they’re done up as adults, the dialogue is what you’d expect from a 13-year-old and one or two characters fight back laughter while speaking their dialogue reading their cue-cards.

The special effects would merit scorn if this was an adult production but graded on a curve they’re acceptable. The gore quotient might surprise you.

As for the individual stories, first we get Family Reunion, a ripoff of Father’s Day. Next comes Tommy, about a boy who grows up imprisoned in a box (just go with it) and emerges as a violent monster. Secret of the Bottle follows and features a scientist who drinks a formula that mutates them into a creature.    

Fourth, we have The Toy in the Window, which stands out by having a few actual adults sharing the screen with our teen “thespians.” Wrapping things up is the sadistic Worms, about students freaking out their teacher with fake looking worms, leading up to a finale where his stomach bursts open and worms come pouring out. Think of Uncle Goddamn for the overall effect of this one.   

Screambook is better than anything I could have put together in my early teens, so I’m certainly not bashing it. In fact, the kids in adult roles and the low budget atmosphere lend it some eeriness points. I’m reviewing the film because of its historical value as the first creation of a man who is still making horror movies to this very day.   

And my God, was the kid prolific! In 1985 he churned out Screambook II: The Next Issue!

FOR MY LOOK AT BRUCE CAMPBELL AND SAM RAIMI SHORT FILMS FROM THE 1970s AND 1980s, MADE WHEN THEY WERE ALREADY OLDER THAN JOE ZASO, CLICK HERE.