Before the era when social media ruled the world, the internet was a niche platform, mostly used by businesses, pornography sites, and social chat rooms. Writer and lead actor, iconic front man of the band Twisted Sister, Dee Snider, used this new age means of communication to give the horror nation an iconic film. A horror lover, Snider based this tale on some of his early albums featuring a child murderer named Captain Howdy (a homage from The Exorcist.) Part mental disorder film, part detective drama, part religious primitive narrative, “Strangeland” is a full on sensationally sadistic horror show.
Teenager Genevieve Gage and her friend Tiana have been captivated by the allure of chat room meetings. Invited to a party, the girls eagerly head out to meet up with a cool guy. When neither return, Genevieve’s father Mike, a police detective, starts a frantic investigation. Mike uncovers the new horrors of online baiting, and quickly goes to work in attempt to locate his daughter. With the help of his tech savvy niece Angela, Mike finds the stalker and apprehends him. Going by the online name Captain Howdy, the real-life Carlton Hendricks is diagnosed as a schizophrenic and released years later after undergoing recovery treatment and prescribed medication. Carlton returns to his hometown to start over and make amends, but the town is desperate for revenge. As soon as another young girl is suspected to have gone missing the town hunts Hendricks and brings Howdy back from his metal grave.
“Strangeland” received negative reviews and had an unsuccessful small box office run before finding a massive audience and cult following on premium cable networks. The film was simply a decade before its time. Snider’s smart script coupled with a no holds barred visual presentation from director John Pieplow gave the horror nation a new icon and a fantastic fright fest. Playing the lead, Snider amazingly portrays a sinister sociopath and a timid shy humble man with ease, perfectly personifying the new age diagnoses of split personality disorder. Veteran actor Kevin Gage compliments Snider as a rational yet emotionally distraught detective trying to navigate this scary new digital world. Often, “Strangeland” bounces from horror story to true crime scenarios without negating either. If for some reason, mental illness and the introduction of internet crimes was not enough, “Strangeland” delves into the world of body modification and primitive religious practices.
Pieplow shines again by taking the viewer into the world of exotic body mod clubs and culture with stunning special effects and real-life body art. It is next to impossible to find any horror hound that does not love this film. Snider has been hounded for years to deliver a sequel and the closest he came was in 2015 when a script and title had been announced to have been completed. “Strangeland: Disciple” had gotten as far as to have been given a pre-distribution deal from horror juggernauts Lionsgate. Sadly, all sequel plans have been terminated at the current time, but “Strangeland” has a large cult following and an entire new generation of fans have uncovered this gem via new wave digital streaming services. Oddly enough, just like the film foretold 22 years ago.
Scream Score: 9/10