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Cassandra Peterson, Edie McClurg, Pat Crawford Brown, William Duell, Daniel Greene ... see more see more... , W. Morgan Sheppard , Raleigh Bond , Frank Collison , Ellen Dunning , Kurt Fuller , Hugh Gillin , Ira Heiden , Tera Hendrickson , Larry Flash Jenkins , Kris Kamm , Tress MacNeille , Lee Mc Laughlin , Edwina Moore , Bill Morey , Phil Rubenstein , Sebastian Russell , Eve Smith , Lynne Marie Stewart , Charles Woolf , Jeff Conaway , Damita Jo Freeman , Michael A. Jackson , John Paragon , Robert Benedetti , Bill Cable , Deryl Carroll , Mario Celario , Scott Morris , Read Scot , William Cort , James Hogan , Susan Kellermann , Jack Fletcher , William Morgan Sheppard , Susan Kellerman

This lightweight and slightly ribald comedy marks the feature film debut of Elvira (Cassandra Peterson), a buxom seductress best known for hosting a popular syndicated television show that features wo... read more read more...nderfully bad old horror movies. After losing her latest job for refusing to sleep with her new boss, Elvira tries to launch a Vegas career. Just before that scheme falls flat, she finds salvation when an aunt dies and leaves her a huge old New England mansion. When the black-clad and sexy Elvira, with her flamboyant make-up and acres of cleavage hit the town, she creates an instant scandal amongst the old folks and inspires lusty dreams in the minds of the young. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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63% liked it

9,733 ratings

Critics

33% liked it

9 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: James Signorelli

Release Date: September 30, 1988

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DVD Release Date: August 28, 2001

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Stats: 623 reviews

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Elvira, Mistress of the Dark Awwww, not in costume. But still hot...and a very nice lady :) Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
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Flixster Reviews (623)

  • FrizzDrop
    March 27, 2012
    FrizzDrop
    This is was one of the weirder attempts at a goofy comedy with some semblance of reason. It was a film that didn't need to exist, but why not give a film to a woman who is a fixture in popular culture? Other magnets of that time period were given films, including Pee-Wee Herman a... read morend Weird Al. Elvira was most famous for introducing small budget horror films during matinà (C)es in the afternoon on a Los Angeles television station during the eighties. In the film she reprises her role as a big boobed siren, inheriting a fortune from her Great Aunt and temporarily moving to a sleepy town. Elvira gets into a buttload of trouble amongst the uptight citizens, mostly comprised of old women and lunching ladies, as well as stodgy, repressed men. Of course the teenagers of the town rally around the unconventional temptress, the boys for the cleavage and the girls for...her kooky demeanor? I suppose that's it. To be frank most of the comedy, or I should say all, either has to do with Elvira's boobs or other body parts, or is sexual innuendo. For all the gaffes and irrelevant pablam that this film has to offer, I did actually laugh a couple of times, and it did resonate at the end as a worthless, cheap form of entertainment. Elvira made this film because she's Elvira, not because she wants anything life changing or star worthy. The setting is pure eighties, the music is rocking New Wave, the comedy is adorably juvenile, and most of the time it's fun and stupid. I praise this film for how dumb it is, how tired and silly. If it was anything other, I actually would have been quite disappointed.
  • fb100000257973100
    July 16, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    During the 1980â(TM)s there was a little thing that use to come on T.V. called Elviraâ(TM)s Movie Macabre. Basically, it would show terrible, low budget public domain B-Movies that would be hosted by a horror host. The horror host in question is the unexplainable Elvira: Mistress... read more of the Dark. For about a decade, she would be on late T.V. in her, well, lovely get up and rip on the cheesy factor of many films and, in the process, make them more bearable to watch. Well, across America people caught on to her and she decided to make a film about her character (Elviraâ(TM)s real name: Cassandra Peterson) and the end result is one the most hilarious films to come out of Hollywood at that time. As an overview, it has a funny as â~yellâ(TM) script and a great comedic performance from Peterson, but that is about it. My reaction while watching this cult classic was that I found myself laughing to no end at some of the outrageous jokes and puns that are around this film, plus some references to other low budget B-Films. Okay, letâ(TM)s get down to the details of this mother. For the directing, it is not that good. The director, James Signorelli, can not direct worth to save his life. He directs like he is following a guide for how to make a mediocre film. My advice for him would be to try something different other then traditional methods. He had a great chance to add something extra to this film, and he blew it. Due to that being the most negative, letâ(TM)s talk about score. Roughly the same as directing. There is nothing inspiring at all about it! I mean, yeah the entire performance at the end of the film was catchy as hell, but it just was not a good score. Now letâ(TM)s get to the fun parts. First the acting. Oh my God. For the most part, the acting was stale with typical performances. But then again, we are not watching this film for the supporting cast. We are wanting to see the Goth Queen with her large â~Dâ(TM)s. We are here to see Elvira. And we get her. Taking the character from a late night show and bringing her to the screen, Peterson just makes this raunchy character completely fun and enjoyable. It is hard not to love her when she is this woman who wears this Gothic make up, beyond reveling dress, and has the tendency to make everything into a sexual joke. She is obscene, crazy, but she gives one hell of a performance. Is it Oscar worthy? No. But is it worthy of sitting through an entire film with her? Oh yes. Lastly the script. While the script is filled with sex related jokes and toilet humor, what makes it different then other comedies that are like this is that this film is actually hilarious and does not try to strain a laugh. Is it corny? Yes. But that makes it all the more fun! Overall, this is a film to see if you are interested in Elvira, love 1980â(TM)s films, and want to just have a good film to watch with your friends or in a crowded theatre at night. Just, do not expect any groundbreaking performances or directing.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 11, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    A stupid but entertaining comedy with a clear "decolteè" view
  • newvogueravyn
    August 14, 2008
    newvogueravyn
    So much fun, it's trashy but you can't help loving it. It probably helps that Elvira is stunning.
  • drblood
    June 24, 2007
    drblood
    Breast jokes abound in an otherwise terrible comedy but fans of Elvira will love this, especially the last ten minutes.
  • webalina
    June 6, 2007
    webalina
    If you like Elvira, hang on to your hats. This is all Elvira, all the time. I really liked this movie. There's actually a bit of a story besides Elvira, and it's a good one -- exposing hypocrisy in a small town. And who can't get into that?
  • matertenebraum
    January 27, 2007
    matertenebraum
    my favourite movie
  • flickfever
    July 16, 2006
    flickfever
    Can you say CAMP?!?!? This movie is the definition of 1980s camp horror/comedy. It's Elvira, come on! That said, it was one of my favorite films growing up. It was so pathetically idiotic that it was actually good. Elvira gets herself into situations that are classic and her chee... read moresy one-liners are things only Elvira would say and things only a moron would laugh at! So, be a moron for 90 minutes and let go! As you follow Elvira exploits in a small, quaint town (where she is so out-of-place) you find yourself laughing (or at least chuckling) at her (not with her) and rooting for her and goofball, horny teenager followers. The mystical theme to this movie and the whole curse element is inconsequential, but adds to the preposterous plot. A classic!
  • fb100000185301014
    September 10, 2011
    fb100000185301014
    Elvira is the woman!!! I love the sexual innuendos!!!!
  • ShaneWreck
    August 25, 2010
    ShaneWreck
    Ahh, Elvira. You're responsible for so many of my childhood erections. This movie is a perfect example of self-aware camp, but what would you expect from a movie that was co-written by John Paragon (Jambi from Pee-Wee's Playhouse). Big hair, bad jokes, and of course, ample cle... read moreavage, it's a winning formula. Cassandra Peterson takes her Groundlings' character to the big screen (still her breasts are barely contained) with great results. The plot revolves around Elvira inheriting an old, dilapidated house from her great aunt, along with the house she also inherits a cookbook full of her Aunt's magic spells. The House is right smack dab in the middle of a little puritan hamlet (with the perfectly fitting name of Falwell [suck it Jerry, you dead bastard]), and needless to say they don't much appreciate Elvira's attitude or her assets. She also has a run in with her evil Uncle Vinny, who's after her cookbook, while all the other guys in town are just after her cookies. Hilarity ensues in the form of a punk rock poodle, misadventures in food preparation, undersexed christians, and of course, tit jokes. What's not to love?

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
January 1, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

But there's nothing dark about Elvira's cleavage.

Bill Gibron
July 29, 2005
Bill Gibron, DVDTalk.com

With a solid humor lineage...Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is one of the best comedies of the late 80s. Full Review

Brandon Judell
April 1, 2005
Brandon Judell, PopcornQ

Stupidity with a cleavage.

Alex Sandell
March 4, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Bad, bad, bad. Stick to hosting late-night creature features, babe.

Ken Hanke
February 5, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Goofy, enjoyable, and it might have been better if it didn't try to please everybody.

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Richard Harrington
January 1, 2000
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 14, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Michael Drakulich
November 27, 2002
Michael Drakulich, Star Newspapers (Chicago, IL)

No review available.

David Poland
July 26, 2002
David Poland, Hot Button

No review available.

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Elvira, Mistress of the Dark Trivia

  • Elvira inherits her aunt's old house & gives the house a paint job, but the townspeople still don't like her?  Answer »
  • In Elvira Mistress of the Dark, Uncle Vinnie is adament about getting which object from Elvira:  Answer »
  • Whose alter ego is Elvira Mistress of the Dark?  Answer »
  • What is the name of Elvira's dog in the movie "Elvira Mistress of the Dark"?  Answer »
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