The ‘90s often get a bad rap with horror fans. After the numerous successful slashers and creature effects films of the ’80s, the ‘90s offered a different variety of horror fare. Though there were plenty of hits, hidden gems, and misunderstood classics, the ‘90s usually don’t get the kind of love that other decades get when it comes to horror. It’s time to change that.
Nothing hurts like seeing a promising talent in horror only make one film and then never return to the genre again. That’s exactly what happened with Alexander Cassini. His debut feature, Star Time, came and went with very little fanfare in the early nineties. After that, Cassini dabbled in television and directed a family-friendly feature before leaving the film world for good. What’s really unfortunate about this is watching Star Time now and wondering about the unique voice that could have been.
Star Time centers around Henry Pinkle (Michael St. Gerard), a disturbed young man who becomes suicidal after his favorite television sitcom is canceled. Just as he’s about to leap off the top of a building, Henry is approached by a mysterious figure named Sam Bones (John P. Ryan) who eventually convinces Henry to live. Sam then tells Henry that he’s meant to bring light into the lives of the public. The best way to do that? Become a star on television. And the best way to do that? Start killing people. Henry becomes “The Baby Mask Killer” and his crimes create a shockwave throughout all of Los Angeles.
What makes Star Time so special is Cassini’s entire approach to the story and direction. It would be very easy to tell this kind of tale in an easily digestible way, but Cassini channels the influences of David Lynch and David Cronenberg to weave a chilling and surreal world. We spend the entire film in Henry’s head and it’s a very lonely, disturbing place. Cassini takes Henry’s view of the world and crafts a visual and tonal landscape that feels uncomfortably singular.
Probably the most striking sequence involves Henry being taken to a mysterious location by Sam. It’s revealed to be a black void that’s filled with numerous television screens. They show images of beautiful women, eyes, and lips. And then the televisions begin talking to Henry, seducing him. “I want you inside me, Henry.” It’s unsubtle but it’s incredibly effective and creepy.
On that same note, the movie is worth your time solely for John P. Ryan’s performance as Sam. Most horror fans will probably know Ryan as the tormented father from It’s Alive, but Star Time gives him a completely different angle to play. Sam Bones might as well be the devil and Ryan is relishing the opportunity to play a silver-tongued, smiling demon that wraps Henry around his finger. His rictus grin and parental take on Bones makes him a true delight to watch every moment he’s on the screen.
To be fair, Star Time is not a slasher flick. This isn’t a kill-crazy, effects-focused kind of picture. Cassini is all about mood and atmosphere. His images are often still and quiet, opting for an emotional and psychological tension rather than one that relies on action and traditional suspense. This leads to a dreamy and somewhat muted feel to the movie that reinforces the kind of nightmare attitude.
In all honesty, Star Time is not going to be for everyone. It’s an art film that’s using a horror setup to examine the toxicity of our relationship to media. Don’t go into Star Time expecting a typical “psycho killer” flick. This is meditative and unnerving more than it is sensationalistic or violent. That said, it’s been tough for me to get Star Time out of my head since I saw it.
It’s a shame Alexander Cassini never got the chance to expand on this kind of filmmaking and storytelling. The one horror movie he made is something that stands out among the crowd, and it’s definitely one of those ‘90s oddities that doesn’t deserve to be forgotten.
