As Special Effects was nearing its midpoint, I found myself bargaining out loud for the movie not ending up in the very same stupid, predictable direction it was heading. But it does, which makes the latter half of the movie a tedious waiting game for the very apparent outcome.

Directed and written by Larry Cohen, Special Effects – not to be mixed up with similarly named F/X (1986) – does the unexpected by not only revealing the killer, but also lays out his plan to frame her ex fiancee for the murder. This is where the plot’s wittiness ends as we’re expected to take some giant big leaps of faith to believe all the nonsense that follows.

80s-o-meter: 81%

Total: 44%