BADass SINema Unearthed - Blu-ray 4K UHD Review

In which the cult-approved Nicolas Cage fights off demonic animatronic mascots! He even dances in one key sequence as he gets ready for the ultimate battle against the last remaining heavy, ol Willy himself! I mean, seriously, HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG WITH THIS IDEA?

You can’t, and, thanks to director Kevin Lewis and writer G. O. Parsons, Willy’s Wonderland - with Cage as The Janitor - is a HIT in its TWEAKED OUT combination of horror, comedy, and elements of the western genre into one outta the park homerun as possessed animatronic mascots wander the halls of Willy’s Wonderland.

And now Willy’s Wonderland, after having its worldwide theatrical release postponed and then cancelled due to Covid-19, finally arrives on blu-ray thanks to Screen Media Films.

We’ve all felt the absolute EVIL inside the walls of Chuck E. Cheese as children absolutely lose their minds to this animatronic beastie.  I mean, those bizarre over-stuffed animatronic characters are frightening and Willy’s Wonderland, thanks to a small town that makes a pact with a SATANIC cult from the grave, explains why all our suspicions about those fat rats are correct.  

The demonic dolls ARE evil!

With an interesting concept at its core, Cage as The Janitor finds himself having to clean up this once successful children’s entertainment center.  Once families came to Willy’s Wonderland to celebrate each and every child’s birthday.  But that was years ago.  Before the killing began.  Before the pact was made.  

And now the family "FUN" center sits in absolute filth and ruin.  

Located in Hayesville, Nevada, Willy’s Wonderland is a trap.  And The Janitor, who finds himself having to work off a $1000 debt for new tires on his Camaro inside Willy’s Wonderland is about to find out for himself just how demonic this place is.  But, thanks to his comical adherence to taking a break, playing pinball, and drinking PUNCH pop he’s the one doing the BUSHWHACKING in this highly-charged and entertaining spin on horror.

And he doesn’t say ONE. DAMN. WORD.

Co-starring veteran actress Beth Grant as the town’s sheriff, Chris Warner, Ric Reitz, and Emily Tosta, Willy’s Wonderland takes its PufnStuf madness to a whole new level thanks to gory takedowns, satanic oaths involving pedophiles, and a wink-and-a-nudge attitude that results in the kind of B-flick bacon that Cage chows down on regularly.

The padlocked night The Janitor spends cleaning up Willy’s Wonderland results in 2021’s first cult movie to arrive on blu.  Anyone else of my cult movie freaks up for seconds?  Because I sure as hell am!

Willy’s Wonderland is now available on blu-ray from Screen Media.

Home Video Distributor: Screen Media
Available on Blu-ray - April 13, 2021
Screen Formats: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English CC
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; 2.0 stereo
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single-disc set
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

A quiet loner, Nic Cage finds himself stranded in a remote town when his car breaks down. Unable to pay for the repairs he needs, he agrees to spend the night cleaning Willy s Wonderland, an abandoned family fun center. But this wonderland has a dark secret that the The Janitor is about to discover. He soon finds himself trapped inside Willy's and locked in an epic battle with the possessed animatronic mascots that roam the halls. To survive, he must fight his way through each of them. 

Video:

The filmmakers used a digital camera on this shoot and the results of the 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode are quite good.  There are cool lighting effects throughout as Cage beats the living shit out of these possessed dolls.  There is perfect clarity when it comes to fine detail and faces.  Clothing fabric is rendered in near fine detail, too.  Colors are never at an eye-popping level, but remain natural throughout the presentation.  Dark levels are strong, but there is some noticeable minute noise during the climax.

Audio:

Most impressive with this release is the audio – presented in a thundering DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack – as it owns the picture.  Bass levels are heavy and commanding.  Dialogue is clean and the music is ON POINT.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• None

Special Features:

With a solid featurette and plenty of behind-the scenes looks at its animatronic madness, Willy’s Wonderland blu-ray is a gift which keeps on giving!  Cult enthusiasts are going to dig its delicious goodies.

• Featurette: The Making of Willy’s Wonderland
• Set Tour with Christian DelGrosso
• Colorful Darkness and The Demon-Atrons
• Production Design of Willy’s Wonderland
• Teaser Character Artwork Gallery
• Character Posters Graphics Gallery
• Production Design Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: TV-MA.
Runtime: 89 mins
Director: Kevin Lewis
Writer: G.O. Parsons
Cast: Nic Cage Emily Tosta Beth Grant
Genre: Horror
Tagline: The Fun Begins This Winter.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Put your balls on Evan. We're going to Willy's!"
Theatrical Distributor: Screen Media
Official Site:
Release Date: February 12, 2021 (internet)
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: April 13, 2021.
Synopsis: A quiet loner (Nic Cage) finds himself stranded in a remote town when his car breaks down. Unable to pay for the repairs he needs, he agrees to spend the night cleaning Willy’s Wonderland, an abandoned family fun center. But this wonderland has a dark secret that the “The Janitor” is about to discover. He soon finds himself trapped inside Willy's and locked in an epic battle with the possessed animatronic mascots that roam the halls. To survive, he must fight his way through each of them.