"Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
#1
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Somewhere Hot Scoville Units: 9,999,999 Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Posts: 12,258
Received 811 Likes
on
316 Posts
"Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
Dr. Giggles (1992) Selected by JAX036 |
Additional Posters:
Spoiler:
IMDB ENTRY
ALYXSTARR LINK
______________________________
These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET list.
The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.
Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.
Spoiler tags aren't always used in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS.
______________________________
These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET list.
The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.
Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.
Spoiler tags aren't always used in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS.
______________________________
S P O N S O R E D B Y | S P O N S O R E D B Y |
2020 DISCUSSION | 2020 LISTS
#2
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
I remember seeing Dr Giggles posters and cassettes at the video rental place but never got around to it until now. It's a fun casual slasher film with a silly villain. The mild slapstick elements work well. Sometimes Dr Giggles maniacal laughter doesn't quite match very well with Larry Drake so that's distracting. Maybe it helped to be nostalgic for the 90s or catching this in the right mood but it was decent. Is it too late for Dr Giggles 2? Imagine how different this would be today.
Very hit and miss. The kid morgue flashback is pretty wtf crazy. A film like this might need to throw everything it has at the premise but the self surgery scene as odd.
Very hit and miss. The kid morgue flashback is pretty wtf crazy. A film like this might need to throw everything it has at the premise but the self surgery scene as odd.
Last edited by Undeadcow; 10-03-20 at 02:38 AM.
#3
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
I also remember this box in video stores when I was a kid. I never saw it back then, but a bunch of years ago it was included in that twisted horror box set. I picked it up to get the John Carpenter movie in it.
This was my second viewing and it’s still watchable very 90’s horror movie.
This was my second viewing and it’s still watchable very 90’s horror movie.
#4
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
I had an 80s/90s TV flashback watching this movie - Larry Drake (L.A. Law), Holly Marie Combs (Picket Fences, Charmed), Glenn Quinn (Roseanne).
#5
Moderator
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
This movie is a guilty pleasure of mine. I've got a soft spot for lightweight teen slashers.
I wish this would get an OAR (2.35:1) release in the USA. I could swear the original snapper case DVD was OAR. But I can't find any confirmation online. I think the only current OAR release is the German Blu-Ray (not counting the US Laserdisc).
The movie just doesn't look right in 1.85:1. The open matte video has too much headroom. It's distracting. The 2.35:1 video is nice and tight.
I wish this would get an OAR (2.35:1) release in the USA. I could swear the original snapper case DVD was OAR. But I can't find any confirmation online. I think the only current OAR release is the German Blu-Ray (not counting the US Laserdisc).
The movie just doesn't look right in 1.85:1. The open matte video has too much headroom. It's distracting. The 2.35:1 video is nice and tight.
#6
Senior Member
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
Mindless Horror/Comedy, but overall a breezy, fun watch. Larry Drake was excellent as the crazed doctor.
7/10
7/10
#7
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
I loved this movie. First, it wasn't complicated, kind of like comfort food. Second, it had Holly Marie Combs. Third, it had Holly Marie Combs (yes, I listed her twice). Fourth, it had Larry Drake and Cliff DeYoung, both good actors for their roles. A great way to start off my Saturday line-up.
#8
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
I’ll agree with the gist of the above comments. Light and fun. Comfort food is a good analogy. And HMC was gorgeous here.
#9
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
Everytime I see it, I like it less and less, I dunno, I think its that giggling. 4/10
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Posts: 808
Received 232 Likes
on
161 Posts
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
The medical puns! My god, every line Larry Drake had was so OTT. A fun cheesy 80's style slasher (though it was 90s) with a medical theme. Very much a mindless horror puffball, as others point out.
I did like the kid emerging in the morgue scene. That was the best part.
I did like the kid emerging in the morgue scene. That was the best part.
#11
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
I was guessing many of the medical puns in advance, i.e. "The doctor is in," but Larry Drake sold them so well. Another yes on Holly Marie Combs and the kid in the morgue scene.
I watched a Q&A extra for Dark Night of the Scarecrow prior to the challenge and someone asked Larry Drake to do his giggle from this movie. Larry graciously replied no since whatever giggle he attempted would be a letdown. He mentioned that it was just a few recorded giggles added in post.
I watched a Q&A extra for Dark Night of the Scarecrow prior to the challenge and someone asked Larry Drake to do his giggle from this movie. Larry graciously replied no since whatever giggle he attempted would be a letdown. He mentioned that it was just a few recorded giggles added in post.
#12
Member
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
Always enjoyed this one as per the comments already posted. It's a fun, humorous slasher for sure. I try to watch it regularly as it's a title that definitely reminds me of going through the horror section when I was a kid.
#13
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: "Dr. Giggles" Reviews/Discussion - 2020 Horror Challenge
This was a bit better than I expected, but the humor was pretty groan inducing. Every doctor and medical pun just took me out of the moment. Ugh. I think there's a much better movie hidden under all that cheese.
As others said, this was painfully 90s. Look, I love me some Freddy Krueger, but his success really ruined horror for a while. I watched Leprechaun yesterday, and seeing this today really showed his bad influence. From what I understand, Leprechaun was written serious and became a comedy through Davis while Giggles was written as a comedy. Either way, the tired, repetitive puns in both feel like them desperately trying to create a new Freddy, and both movies suffer for it.
As others said, this was painfully 90s. Look, I love me some Freddy Krueger, but his success really ruined horror for a while. I watched Leprechaun yesterday, and seeing this today really showed his bad influence. From what I understand, Leprechaun was written serious and became a comedy through Davis while Giggles was written as a comedy. Either way, the tired, repetitive puns in both feel like them desperately trying to create a new Freddy, and both movies suffer for it.