Basil's Blog: MST3K: Episode 414

Thursday, April 5, 2012

MST3K: Episode 414 - Tormented

I'm watching all of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes in order. More about that here and here.

Episode 414: Tormented

First aired: Comedy Central on 19 September 1992
Availability: iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Amazon (Volume 11), Rhino (Volume 11/out of print), Best Brains (Volume 11)

A Bert I. Gordon film.

Another feature film by the Mr. BIG. Yes, it's another film by Bert I. Gordon.

Only, it's not your typical Bert I. Gordon affair. Either that, or the Notorious B.I.G. doesn't deserve the mocking the MST3K crew gives him. Okay, maybe he does.

This isn't that bad of a movie. Not really.

Okay, it's not a good movie, but there are lots worse. This one has a plot. And, there are some genuinely -- and intentionally -- creepy parts to it.

Dr. Forrester explains the Drinking Jacket.

Musician Tom breaks up with his girlfriend Vi just before his marriage to Meg. Vi threatens to reveal Tom's letters, then falls from a lighthouse. Tom didn't push her, but didn't save her when he had the chance. The milkman knows something's wrong and blackmails Tom. Vi's ghost, which only Tom can see, torments him, providing the movie with a title and the film with a plot. Tom kills the milkman, then falls from the lighthouse before he can kill his fiance's little sister. The town folk find Vi's body and Tom's body and lay them on the beach. Vi's body hugs Tom's body. The end.

Tom's biggest problem? No, not that he is a cad who cheats on his girlfriend with his other girlfriend. No, not that he allowed a girl to die. No, Tom's biggest problem is that he acts like he's a Kennedy but isn't a Kennedy.

Joel tosses Tom Servo to his seat.

Creature From the Black Lagoon star Richard Carlson stars as the villain. He's the biggest star in this film. Director Bert I. Gordon doesn't quite have the all-star cast as we saw in Episode 411: The Magic Sword, but this film isn't all that bad. In fact, I'd go so far as to say this movie was not horrible.

But, it had some unanswered questions. For example, was Vi's ghost really there, or was it just Tom's imagination run wild?

I never saw this movie apart from it's being in an episode of MST3K, though I had seen four of his MST3K movies before there was an MST3K. And, I got a kick out of each of his films.

So, a decent film. As decent as you'll get from the MST3K film vault. And some funny riffing. And some funny Host Segments.


Vi falls from the lighthouse. Tom doesn't save her.	Joel & the Bots want to see others fall from a lighthouse.

The Invention Exchange featured Frank demonstrating Dr. Forrester's offering: the Drinking Jacket. You've heard of a smoking jacket? Well, the drinking jacket comes complete with DTs.

And the "what singer do you want to see fall from a lighthouse?" segment is funny. I can think of a lot more singers I'd like to see make the plunge.