Since entering the public domain last year, there have been quite few attempts to transform Mickey Mouse into a horror icon. First, with the low-budget romp The Mouse Trap. Then with the Slender Man-inspired video game Infestation 88. While there are still several other projects in the works, they may all struggle to top the latest reimagining: Screamboat.
Directed by Steven LaMorte, the film follows a routine evening ride aboard New York’s Staten Island Ferry that turns into a nightmare after a mysterious creature is released from below deck. That creature, as the title implies, is a twisted version of Disney’s Steamboat Willie. As the night goes on, he begins to pick off passengers one by one. When the ship begins to veer off course, a small group of riders bands together to find him and fight back before they end up victims of his murderous rampage.
LaMorte is no stranger to horror, having previously directed The Mean One – the twisted tale inspired by Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch. However, here he steps his game up considerably. The scope of the story, the lead character and the kills all work so well that you often forget you’re watching a movie motivated by a gimmick. That’s because it’s an idea that would still work if you took out Steamboat Willie altogether. The narrative is so compelling you can tell LaMorte didn’t craft this project around the fact that the character entered public domain. It just so happens to work because of the layer of lore he adds on top of the narrative.
Make no mistake. The film is more silly than scary. You can pick that up from the countless Disney Easter eggs sprinkled throughout – and the calculated campiness of its killer. David Howard Thornton plays the film’s vicious version of Steamboat Willie. Despite forging a whole new generation of nightmare fuel as Art the Clown, he really showcases his range here. Granted, he’s nowhere near as terrifying as the “Terrifier.” But he is arguably a bit more of a menace. That’s partly because of the way in which he whistles before he kills (living up to his namesake). As well as LaMorte’s genius idea to keep the character pint-sized. You read that right. Having a killer that packs even a smaller punch than Chucky and the Leprechaun adds another layer of suspense for the characters because they never know where he might strike from next. Like a real-life mouse, he pounces from above, below and onto every orifice in between.
Aside from Thornton’s performance, some of the other film’s highlights are its creative kills and impressive kill count. Even though some effects look more convincing than others, each kill is pretty memorable. If you aren’t flinching from how relentless Willie is, then you’ll probably be picking your jaw from the floor from the ridiculous ways some characters die.
Despite the abundance of gore, the excess of characters is the film’s biggest downside. Not only are there too many people to follow for the first half of the film. At times, the film feels more like a montage of death sequences. While some diehard horror fans might have no problem with that, it feels less like pandering towards its main audience and more like meandering to fill time . In fact, it isn’t until the 50-minute mark that the film finally settles on the core characters that will try to defeat Willie. But that’s just one bump on a very enjoyable ride.
Now, Screamboat isn’t the best film about a group of doomed passengers aboard a ship. That honor still belongs to James Cameron’s Titanic. However, it’s half as long and, at times, surprisingly just as exhilarating. While it may not be the first film to re-envision a beloved childhood character as a horror icon (or even this beloved character), it’s good enough to keep the trend afloat.
Screamboat is now playing exclusively in theaters! You can purchase tickets here.
