WNUF Halloween Special (2013) Review – An Authentic Blast of 80s Nostalgia
WNUF Halloween Special: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A uniquely immersive and nostalgic experience that serves as a pitch-perfect love letter to the era of public access television and worn-out VHS tapes. WNUF Halloween Special (2013) succeeds not as a traditional horror film, but as a meticulously crafted time capsule. While the horror elements are brief and somewhat secondary to the satire, the sheer dedication to authenticity – from the grainy 4:3 aspect ratio to the hilariously accurate local commercials – is nothing short of remarkable. It isn’t a film designed to scare, but rather to envelop the viewer in a specific, lost aesthetic of broadcasting. It is an impressive labour of love that perfectly captures the “accidental” horror found in late-night television. Highly recommended for fans of found footage who value style and atmosphere over jump-scares.
Details: Director: Chris LaMartina | Cast: Paul Fahrenkopf, Megan Ohl, Nicolette le Faye | Runtime: 1h 23m | Release Date: 2013
Best for: Fans of the 80s aesthetic, nostalgia seekers, and those who enjoy experimental found footage cinema.
Worth noting: To achieve the authentic look, the producers actually recorded the footage onto VHS and then degraded the tapes through multiple re-recordings.
Where to Watch: VOD, Amazon🛒
Rating: 4/5 Stars
(A brilliantly executed nostalgia trip that captures the magic of 80s local TV through a lens of creative, lo-fi horror.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing Chris LaMartina’s WNUF Halloween Special from 2013.
Table of Contents
An Analog Halloween Horror Experience
This is most definitely not your traditional horror movie so don’t go in expecting that. This is something altogether more unique and experimental.
“WNUF Halloween Special is less a full-blown horror movie and more an experiment in filmmaking. It is designed to tickle your nostalgia spots and make you yearn for a time when life seemed a little easier.”
WNUF Halloween Special is presented as a cable television Halloween-themed news special. The team are heading to the house where a horrifying murder occurred. Along with them they are taking a pair of mediums to see whether they can communicate with the dead. Little does the channel realise that something other than spirits may be lurking there.
It’s best to set your expectations when you head into this movie. WNUF Halloween Special is a horror short wrapped in a news variety show style presentation. The meat of the story, and the part that can most accurately be described as horror, is only about 15-20 minutes long. The rest of the movie is a mix of 80s-style commercials, public announcements, television listings, weather reports, and news-style chatter.
This is less a full-blown horror movie and more an experiment in filmmaking. It’s not designed to scare you; it’s designed to tickle your nostalgia spots and make you yearn for a time when life seemed a little easier. It’s actually a difficult film to provide an accurate comparison for. Perhaps the BBC production of Ghostwatch from 1992 but that’s likely more of an inspiration rather than an apt comparison. Needless to say, don’t go in expecting to be scared. Go in expecting to see something that looks like an 80s cable television special.
A flashback to the 80s
The 80s are very “in” at the moment when it comes to horror. Stranger Things and the movie version of Stephen King’s It, among other releases, have people yearning for the days of big hair, big guitar solos, and even bigger mobile phones. If you are a child of the 80s then you are either loving it or are completely confused as to what the fuss is about.
I was born in the 80s but spent the majority of my childhood in the 90s so consider myself more of a 90s kid. I still remember a fair whack of the TV from that era and my partner and I are, for some strange reason, obsessed with watching old commercials from the 80s. With this in mind, WNUF Halloween Special is pretty much tailor-made for us.
“Recorded on VHS tapes and then copied several times to recreate the feeling of an old worn out VHS cassette, WNUF Halloween Special feels incredibly authentic.”
Recorded on VHS tapes and then copied several times to recreate the feeling of an old worn out VHS cassette, WNUF Halloween Special feels incredibly authentic. Older cameras were used to film the commercials and news segments, the movie was filmed in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, and everything looks pretty old and a bit crappy. Nothing here feels prosthetic and you can almost taste the beige.
The cheesy commercials are a highlight
The horror comes by way of a news investigation into a haunted house. That’s really not what we are here for, though. The commercials are the shining star of this production. The production team here absolutely nailed the vibe. They are so authentic and capture the perfect look and feel of commercials from that era.
Obviously this must have taken a significant amount of work. Recording one commercial is likely time-consuming enough so filming a whole bunch to fill over an hour of television-style content is a huge undertaking. It has obviously been a labour of love for the many directors who worked on WNUF. The range of commercials is impressive in itself. There are commercials for television shows, safety warnings for Halloween, adverts aimed at prospective voters, and so many more.
Again, I love binge-watching old commercials so I recognised the inspiration for a lot of these. A few are basically one-to-one copies of ads that actually ran at Halloween back then. One is for a pumpkin carving kit that is an almost word-for-word facsimile. There is another for face paint that uses some very specific phrasing that was used on a particular advert from back then.
“The commercials are the shining star of this production. They are so authentic and capture the perfect look and feel of commercials from that era.”
I am not sure whether these nods are deliberate or just a bit lazy. Chris Lemartina said he wanted to recapture the style and what better way to do it than by ripping it off completely? It doesn’t detract from just how perfectly done WNUF is however, and is just something I noticed.
It’s hilarious but not scary
WNUF Halloween Special has a humour that really nails the cheesiness of the shows of the time. The awkward chemistry between news and talk show presenters is perfectly captured. The terrible jokes and slight disdain the presenters seem to have for each other is like holding a mirror up to shows of the era.
The commercials are hilarious and expertly parody the bizarre methods used to promote products in the 80s and 90s. Frank Stewart’s sarcasm and disinterest with the job he is doing only adds to the humour. We have all seen television presenters like this. The lack of glamour is a really nice touch that is sure to remind everyone of their own local news shows. Everything looks so cheap and the presenters’ smiles are so fake. It is perfectly done and absolutely hilarious.
One thing that WNUF is not, however, is scary. It’s barely a horror movie at all, as I mentioned earlier. The story at the Webber house is the only horror element actually present here. Despite a slight twist and a bit of gore, it isn’t at all scary. It is worth me mentioning that it isn’t trying to be scary. WNUF is very clear in what it is and never tries to be an all-out horror movie. It’s an experience and a fantastic one at that. This was followed up by a sequel a decade later in the form of The Out There Halloween Mega Tape.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Authentic 80s Vibe: The dedication to recreating the look and feel of a worn VHS tape is incredibly impressive and immersive.
- Hilarious Commercials: WNUF’s parody advertisements are an absolute highlight, capturing the perfect level of cheesiness and era-specific detail.
- Creative Presentation: It is a bold, experimental piece of filmmaking that offers something completely different from standard horror fare.
The Bad
- Not Actually Scary: Those looking for traditional horror thrills or jump-scares will find the movie significantly lacking in the fright department.
- Brief Horror Plot: The actual “scary” segment is quite short, which may leave some viewers feeling like the central story is underdeveloped.
- Niche Appeal: The movie relies heavily on nostalgia; if you didn’t grow up with this style of TV, the charm might be lost on you.
The Ugly: The Tape Degradation. While intentional and authentic, the jittery tracking and fuzzy visuals might cause a bit of eye-strain for some viewers.
Should You Watch WNUF Halloween Special?
Yes. It is a 4 star film that rewards those who appreciate creative, atmospheric cinema. If you are looking for a spooky, nostalgic trip down memory lane that perfectly captures the spirit of a 1980s October night, this is essential viewing. It is an impressive technical feat that manages to be both a clever satire and a warm homage to a bygone era of broadcasting. Just don’t go in expecting a slasher – this is a vibe-driven experience that is best enjoyed with a bowl of sweets and a dark room.
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