The defence The Arthouse Gremlin
“Its refusal to behave is the point.”
The strange choices create the kind of friction that follows you out of the theatre and into the argument.
Back to trending 
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
Comedy · Fantasy · Horror · 1988
Arriving in the small town of Fallwell, Massachusetts to claim her inheritance, horror hostess Elvira receives a less than enthusiastic reception from the conservative locals, including her sinister uncle Vincent.
Movie details
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
“Elvira makes her Big Scream Debut in her Hot New Comedy.”
1988 Comedy · Fantasy · Horror 1h 36m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.7 / 10
Community rating
Arriving in the small town of Fallwell, Massachusetts to claim her inheritance, horror hostess Elvira receives a less than enthusiastic reception from the conservative locals, including her sinister uncle Vincent.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Elvira: Mistress of the Dark?
For the defence
The Arthouse Gremlin
“The stranger, the better.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Nekrotronic
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High Spirits
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Where it lives
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
James Signorelli
Written by
John Paragon · Cassandra Peterson · Sam Egan
Cassandra Peterson
Elvira / Aunt Morgana Talbot
William Morgan Sheppard
Vincent Talbot
Daniel Greene
Bob Redding
Edie McClurg
Chastity Pariah
Susan Kellermann
Patty
Jeff Conaway
Travis
Ellen Dunning
Robin Meeker
Court is in session
Put Elvira: Mistress of the Dark on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Oddness is not depth.”
A film can break every rule and still leave nothing behind but the memory of how hard it tried to be singular.