11th October 2018 | 31 Days of “Alternative” Horror: The Burbs
We’re side stepping out of the darkness for a moment to enjoy something of a gem of modern macabre: a suburban terror with Walter’s funny bone well in place. We come to the Burbs feeling the comic relief that is much needed. The Burbs was a Joe Dante comedy through and through, carrying on the traditions found in Innerspace, Gremlins, although some can say there is a reflection of genre departure in Gremlins 2. The horror genre has a habit going for a genre spin for its first sequel: Take Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Evil Dead 2 and Gremlins 2, all taking what was an established form and function by the predecessor and then turning the genre on its head.
The Burbs didn’t need a sequel in order to break from convention. It does this several times within the same movie. It has something of a personality change which is seldom done (others that have succeeded with this are From Dusk Till Dawn, Audition, Sunshine, Titanic, Psycho, and most recently Mother!) — While The Burbs is absurdly funny at times, with larger than life characters, they were all pitted well against a comedy that borrowed elements from, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Rear Window and Honey I Shrunk the Kids — with plenty of space in-between which is the playground where Joe Dante and Tom Hanks rule.
On the surface, The Burbs has a supremely easy premise: Anxious husband, Ray Peterson, played by Hanks has decided to spend a week away from work. Instead of going on vacation, he spends the time at home with his wife, Carol Peterson played by Carrie Fisher. Ray is far from relaxed, taking to spying on his neighbours. One family in particular have the whole street talking: a new family who they believe is up to no good. A rumour being that they are a part of some murderous satanic cult. The film is at its most enjoyable as a mystery where paranoia is driven along as if it were a studio tour. The neighbours gather, either in plain sight or in a very stealthy, covert manner, observing, judging, second guessing…
Other neighbours include the over the top patriotic — and loud with it — Lt. Mark Rumsfield, played appropriately by Bruce Dern. Art Weingartner who is the easily led, neighbourhood dirt digger who associates mostly with Ray. Henry Gibson plays the suspicious Doctor who is the head of the suspicious “Boo Radley” backward family, with Corey Feldman phoning it in as… pretty much himself thinking he will be set up with steady work for years to come.
The Tom Hanks of the 1980s was not only versatile, but appeared completely at home with comedies that were unconventional. It stretched his range, gave him plenty of things to do, and also allowed him to not just be seen as just another comedy actor in another comedy. Tom Hanks chooses his roles wisely and is always ready for the greater — seriously dramatic — challenge.
Halloween needs a film like this — a farce that doesn’t take itself too seriously, built on over-the-top and yet, when you juxtapose any extreme with even the thinnest veil of horror, it works. It really works to the point where we sit out the daytime scenes in anticipation for the darkness to come. In the darkness, the farce has trouble breathing.
In the darkness, the jump and bumps play off the comedy and for a while you don’t know whether you’re supposed to laugh, or wait for whatever it is that is lurking at 669 Mayfield Place, to rear its creepy head.
Written by: Stephen Radford
website: stephenradford.com
Next: 12th October: Black Christmas
