Somewhat idle John Carpenter (Dark Star (1974), The Thing (1982), Big Trouble in Little China (1986)) completism. He directed a script by Michael De Luca, who apparently had far more success as a producer, and did the soundtrack too: the metal licks are of the era.
The scenario has the writings of a horror novel author (eventually Jürgen Prochnow), bigger than Stephen King, become some kind of metafictional reality; it could be summarised, more or less, with the lines "I think therefore you are" and "God’s not supposed to be a hack horror writer" but that would be to miss the naff/goofy fun bits that kick in after a slow start. Insurance fraud investigator Sam Neill does well to hold it all together in the lead with some assistance from editor Julie Carmen and very straight publisher Charlton Heston. David Warner (Tron (1982)). Frances Bay plays a hotel concierge; she did a fair bit of work with David Lynch.
There's no doubt the whole thing disappears into its own self-satisfaction. I did not enjoy the jump scares that much, mostly because I didn't have enough opportunity to enjoy the extravagant practical effects. I imagine the kids had a ball (c.f. Weapons (2025)).
Roger Ebert: two stars. Janet Maslin.
