Main Cast: Phyllis Diller, Ed Nelson, Deborah Rose
Release Year: 1990
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This overlooked but entertaining direct-to-video oddity plunges into the nightmarish experiences of a portly, depressed psychic medium (Deborah Rose), whose involvement in a grisly child-murder case leads her and her detective partner (Ed Nelson) to an imposing, fortress-like mortuary. Chen (Robert Yun Ju Ahn), the owner of the funeral home and prime suspect in the case, claims the three mummified corpses in question are not children but ancient demons known as "kyoshi." It seems the little monsters have been around for centuries as a result of an age-old curse and can only be placated with offerings of human flesh -- with which the mortician has been supplying them his entire life. When Chen is jailed on murder charges, the under-fed ghouls awaken in search of dinner, trapping the staff inside the mortuary walls and munching down on them. The survivors, including Rose and Nelson, use every means at their disposal to combat the demons -- which have managed to possess the bodies of morgue attendant Mrs. Poopenplatz (Phyllis Diller) and her poodle, mutating them into hideous hell-beasts (not much of a stretch, really). Despite the presence of Diller and some rather outrageous set-pieces, director James Cummins plays the material remarkably straight. Standouts include a good performance by Rose and some truly creepy demon-attacks, marred only slightly by a clunky script and uneven pacing. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Cast
Phyllis Diller - Miss Poopinplatz; James Eustermann; Norman Fell - Shepard; Ed Nelson - Jersey Callum; Deborah Rose - Alley Cates; Willie Stratford, Jr.; Denise Young
Credit
Anthony Ricardi - Art Director, Phil Smoot - Associate Producer, Deanna Newton - Costume Designer, James Cummins - Director, Larry Gries - Editor, Kathleen Ann Porter - Composer (Music Score), John Lee Whitener - Composer (Music Score), Irl Dixon - Cinematographer, Richard F. Brophy - Producer, Jeffery Sanfilippo - Producer, James Cummins - Screenwriter
