Does Screamboat need my review? No, but I am in the best company and know my audience. We are the exact people whom this film hopes to charm. Screamboat is written by Matthew Garcia-Dunn and Steven LaMorte and directed by LaMorte (The Mean One). I expected to have a good laugh here and there, but I was pleasantly surprised and entertained. In all seriousness, Screamboat is an excellent production, the characters are fantastic, the story is exciting, and dammit, Steamboat Willie is hilarious and superbly vicious.
All Aboard!
I was determined to watch Screamboat the moment I heard there was a violent spoof of Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie. Caveat: I am not a fan of Disney. That’s alright, I am not the ideal audience for fairy tales and happy endings. In this case, I was sold when I read that David Howard Thornton, known for his roles as Art the Clown and The Mean One, would play the demented mouse nicknamed Pizza Rat by the heroines of this tale. Slapstick comedy and a bloody massacre on a ferry? Don’t mind if I do.
The Staten Island Ferry is on its last evening journey, and Selena (Allison Pittel) just makes it while trying to avoid a group of party girls. Luckily, she bumps into Pete (Jesse Posey), and they begin their rom-com tale, complete with the “girl with big dreams moves to the big city” background. Each group of characters is written into their own unique story under the umbrella of this film. Our birthday party group is led by Cindi (Kailey Hyman), and they each give a silly nod to Disney princesses, from Cinderella to Princess Jasmine. Fortunately, there was no Tiana because she’s the only princess who would be missed.
So many creative nods and details added a layer of intrigue and familiarity. Each crew member takes their job seriously as a maniacal mouse terrorizes the passengers. Bonus: The EMT Amber (Amy Schumacher) on board offers life advice that keeps you laughing in all the madness.
Full Scream Ahead!
First, Steamboat Willie is life-size. Why did I not realize our slashing mutated menace was a foot tall? I don’t know his height exactly, but this made him endearing to me. His origin story involves scientific experiments, and I adored the animation in the flashbacks. Willy was tortured, and he has reawakened with murder on his mind. I was giddy as I watched him pitter-patter about the ship.
No one is safe from Willie’s violence, and there was a lot of humor in showing his mouse perspective and then the absurd view we all had of him when murdering crewman after crewman. The kills are creative, the practical effects are fantastic, the pacing was nice, and the runtime felt shorter than its 104 minutes. Expect silliness, blood, and wild Willie hellbent on a merry massacre. Also, the character of Moses (Jarod Lindsey) is sweet to follow, and yes, a charmingly wholesome part of this film. Most of all, we are party to the best rallying cry since Samuel L. Jackson’s in Deep Blue Sea. “We don’t start shit, we don’t give a shit, and we sure as shit don’t take shit from no one. Because we’re fuckin’ New Yorkers!’
A Scream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.
Yes, I love Screamboat. Also, I am biased toward David Howard Thornton and unashamed of how truly entertained I was by this film. Steamboat Willie is a freakish, filthy mouse and a hilariously absurd character. If they were trying to woo me, I am ready for a second date. Awesome kills and I promise there will be at least one penis flopping about and a minimum of one set of bloody boobs. The ominous, whimsical whistling and music were a brilliant touch. Notably, it looks as though everyone had a blast making Screamboat. DeskPop Entertainment released Screamboat on VOD, DVD, and Blu-ray on May 2nd. Check it out today on all platforms.
