Zapped! is a 1982 motion picture comedy starring Scott Baio as a teen who acquires telekinetic powers. The film is regarded as a parody of Carrie but also includes spoofs of The Exorcist, Taxi Driver, Star Trek and the 1969 Kurt Russell film The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. It is marketed with the tagline "They're getting a little behind in their classwork..."
Cast
Baio stars as Barney Springboro, the student/science lab nerd, who is teamed up with his future Charles in Charge cast mate Willie Aames. The usual high school stereotypes appear, including the feminist class president, played by Felice Schachter, the snobby cheerleader prom-queen, portrayed by Heather Thomas, in one of her earliest film roles, along with her mean-spirited jock boyfriend Greg Bradford. The lovelorn maiden teacher Sue Ane Langdon, the befuddled principal Robert Mandan, the hard drinking coach Scatman Crothers and Baio's clueless parents Roger Bowen and Marya Small fill out the cast. Eddie Deezen has a cameo appearance, while Merritt Butrick plays the school greaser.
Plot
Barney is a student/science lab nerd who obtains telekinetic powers after a lab accident. Along with his best friend Peyton Nichols (Aames), a wealthy playboy with a dirty mind, Barney uses his new powers for no better reasons than beating up bullies, cheating at sports and stripping girls, particularly co-star Thomas. After typical hijinks, including an episode at the prom strangely similar to the ending of Stephen King's Carrie, Barney comes to realize that the best girl for him is actually Felice Schachter's Bernadette.
Filming
The film used several techniques to capture the feel of its high school setting for nostalgic fans. It was filmed in large part at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles with the students as extras. The story line never leaves the high school. The students talk mostly about social life and college plans, while the prom is in the gym. The senior trip is to the local amusement park. Of the major stars, however, only Felice Schachter was still a high school student when the movie was filmed. In fact, she missed her own prom to film the prom sequence in the movie.
The movie used a body-double for Thomas' nude scenes as she refused to remove her own clothes; further controversy was generated when a complaint was filed by Thomas about a likeness of her head being pasted onto someone else's nude body.[1]
Sequel
Zapped! was made in 1981 by Embassy Pictures for $2 million and was released the following year making $15 million in its initial release. Critics generally panned Zapped! for a weak story line and for relying on gratuitous nudity. However, over the years it sold heavily in videos, spawned a 1990 direct-to-video sequel, Zapped Again! (with only Sue Ane Langdon returning from the original cast).
Music
The movie soundtrack was composed by Charles Fox and featured performances by Joe "Bean" Esposito ("Updike's Theme") and David Pomeranz ("Got to Believe in Magic", "King and Queen of Hearts") which were big hits in the Philippines. A band by the name of The Twisters also played in this movie.
Awards
Willie Aames was nominated by the Golden Raspberry Awards for "Worst Actor" for his performance in Zapped! but lost to Sir Laurence Olivier in Inchon. A notable edition of The Onion shows a tuxedoed Baio holding multiple Oscars, and the spoof headline "Zapped! Overtakes Oscars!"
Home video
Zapped! was initially released on VHS and on Laserdisc by Embassy Pictures and reissued by MGM Home Entertainment on VHS and has re-released the film on DVD on February 12, 2008.
See also
References
External links
