Michael Ferris

(In French, On Cable TV, June 2022) One of two things can explain Mindwarp – either it’s the product of a feverish coke-fuelled binge by screenwriters dead-set on blending three different genres together, or it’s a low-budget direct-to-video production. How else to explain the demented mix of cyberpunk tropes with post-apocalyptic setting, with a dash of slasher and the presence of both Bruce Campbell and Angus Scrimm? Yes, Mindwarp is a trip – and that’s even before getting into the crackpot last few minutes of the film. But no, sorry – it’s not a good film. I mean – sure, it’s kind of interesting just to see how the pieces are brought together and don’t fit, but it’s not as if any quality or enjoyment pops out of that. Campbell is subdued (although Scrimm is effective), the gore effects seem perfunctory (which makes sense considering that the film was produced as part of Fangoria’s magazine brief foray into films) and the ending is too wishy-washy to be effective. Interestingly enough, the screenwriting duo responsible for Mindwarp’s script, John Brancato and Michael Ferris, would go on to have a modestly impressive Hollywood career with a few highs (The Game) and lows (Catwoman).