Plot: What’s it about?
Cameron Lansing (Scott Curtis) is a child with a powerful gift, as he has some psychokinetic powers. As he is just a child, he doesn’t give much mind to these powers, but his father Owen (Tab Hunter) has an immense interest in his son’s special gift. In an effort to learn more about the powers and see what Cameron is capable of, Owen conducts some experiments. This proves to be a mistake however, as the psychokinetic powers can do more than mere parlor tricks. The experiments have an unexpected consequence, thanks in part to Cameron’s persona. He is sad most of the time and feels very alone, which reacts with his powers and the experiment, in a most horrific fashion. A hideous demon is unleashed by the experiments, a supernatural beast that resides in Cameron’s closet and begins a blood soaked reign of terror. Soon enough, Owen is killed in a bloodbath incident in which he loses his head, but that is just the start. A few months down the road, his mother’s beau is found dead under mysterious circumstances. The demon in the closet is not satisfied with only a couple of deaths however, not even close. As time passes, the demon tries to take control of Cameron’s soul, but the boy fights as best he can. A police officer steps in to help Cameron, but can anyone defeat the powerful demon in Cameron’s Closet?
A well crafted death scene in a horror movie can make up jump, gasp, or if you’re a lightweight, maybe even get sick to your stomach. A poorly executed death scene can make you groan, wince, and above all else, laugh. Cameron’s Closet is a tutorial in how not to construct death scenes in a horror movie, as each one is atrocious. The concepts are sometimes cool, but the execution is often lame and ineffective. Such as the scene that has Tab Hunter fall onto a machete and lose his head, this is one of the most convoluted death scenes I’ve ever witnessed. Some folks would just groan and reach for the remote, but not a horror movie buff, we have to continue to watch, to see if more hilarious deaths are to follow. Cameron’s Closet is a bad movie, I can say that point blank and tell you the sole reason to check it out is if you like cheese laden death scenes. The film also has a cool, but wasted bizarre atmosphere, but without a decent story or performances to go with it, this proves to be wasted potential. But those corny death scenes remain and if you like bad horror movies, you’ll get a few kicks here. I can’t recommend the movie outside of genre nuts however, as the film fails to deliver on almost all fronts. Columbia’s disc is a bare bones, rushed out edition, so even if you are interested, a rental should suffice.
Video: How does it look?
Cameron’s Closet is presented in full frame. I am unsure of the intended aspect ratio of this movie, but I would assume it was shown in theaters, so I expected a widescreen treatment. But this is not a pan & scan presentation, so the film was either shot with full exposure in mind, or this is an open matte treatment. In any event, the visual effort isn’t that impressive and the film’s low budget roots are evident. The print is in good condition, with light grain and minimal debris, but the film has a very soft visual design. I mean, like really soft and that lessens the visuals more than a little, as detail is shot here. The softness causes the black levels to be murky and unrefined, while colors lack the vivid pop we’d like to see. But this is due more to the visual approach than this presentation, so don’t blame Columbia in this case.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc includes a basic, but acceptable 2.0 surround option. The speakers won’t burst or short out from overuse, but this is an active mix than puts you right into the action. The music isn’t as immersive as I would like, but it still comes across well here. The dialogue is rich and even in this mix as well, no volume issues or other problems seem to surface. So while I expected a bland, not too memorable soundtrack, I was pleased to find one that had some punch, even if that punch wasn’t always as strong as I’d like. In an odd move for Columbia, no alternate language tracks or subtitle options have been included, which is a disappointment.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
