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{{Cleanup|date=July 2011}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Shrunken Heads | name = Shrunken Heads
| image = Shrunken heads.jpg | image = Shrunken heads.jpg
| caption = VHS Artwork | alt =
⚫ | caption = VHS artwork
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = ] | producer = ]
| writer = ] | writer = ]
| starring = ]<br>] | starring = {{Plainlist|
* ]
* ]
}}
| music = ]<br>]
| music = {{Plainlist|
⚫ | cinematography = ]
* ]
| editing = ]
* ]
⚫ | distributor = ]
}}
⚫ | released = October 18, ]
⚫ | cinematography = Stephen McNutt
⚫ | runtime = 86 min
| country = ] | editing = Charles Simmons
⚫ | studio = ]
| distributor = {{Plainlist|
*] (United States)
*] (all other areas)}}
⚫ | released = {{Film date|1994|05|01}}
| runtime = 86 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English | language = English
| budget = $1,000,000 | budget = $800,000
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| website =
}} }}
'''''Shrunken Heads''''' is a 1994 American ] ] film directed by ] and written by ]. The film follows three preteen boys who, after being murdered by a vicious gang, are resurrected via ] as ]s.


⚫ Produced by ] and released by ], this was the last film in which ] appeared. Director Elfman's brother, ], provided the main theme music, while the rest of the score was composed by ]. Richard's son, ], appears in a supporting role.
'''''Shrunken Heads''''' is a 1994 ] film directed by ] and written by ].<ref name="IMDbfirst">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111175/|title=Shrunken Heads|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2008-12-03}}</ref> It is ]'s first theatrical feature, and the last film in which ] appeared.

⚫ Director Richard Elfman's brother, ], provided the main theme music for the film, while the rest of the score was created by ]. Richard's son, ], appeared in the film as Booger Martin.


==Plot== ==Plot==
New Yorkers Tommy Larson and Bill Turner are best friends who spend their time reading comic books which they buy from Mr. Sumatra's newspaper stand. However, they are also under constant bullying from local hoodlums Vinnie Benedetti, Booger Martin, and Podowski. Tommy also has a major crush on Sally, who happens to be Vinnie's girlfriend. Vinnie works for mob boss "Big Moe", always doing the dirty work.
Inspired by their favorite comic book heroes, young Tommy and his pals take it upon themselves to clean up their menacing neighborhood by busting the local street punks. But the three youths run into big trouble for all their good intentions in the form of Big Mo, the local crime boss and all around bully. Mo wastes no time in wasting the trio of irritating do-gooders. But Sumatra (Julius Harris), a retired (but still practicing) voodoo specialist revives the boys with a healthy dose of mumbo-jumbo. Empowered beyond their wildest dreams, the shrunken trio head out to take on Big Mo and her boys!

When newcomer Freddie Thompson gets bullied by Vinnie and the boys, Tommy's attempt to stand up to Vinnie proves futile until Mr. Sumatra saves them as Booger tells Vinnie that something is off with the newspaper stand owner. When Tommy, Bill, and Freddie hatch a plan to have Vinnie and the boys getting busted, Big Moe gets word and she orders Vinnie and the boys to kill the three teens. When they are killed in cold blood, Mr. Sumatra, revealed to be a voodoo priest, ] the trio as shrunken heads. Tommy has the power to emit electricity. Bill becomes a vampire. Freddie has the ability to unleash a switchblade from his mouth. The trio uses their new powers to exact revenge and make New York a safe place to live again.


==Cast== ==Cast==
*] as Mr. Sumatra, a voodoo priest * ] as Aristide Sumatra, a voodoo priest and former member of the Haitian ].
*] as Big Moe, a tough lesbian mob boss * ] as Maureen "Big Moe", a tough lesbian mob boss.
*] as Tommy Larson * Aeryk Egan as Tommy Larson
*] as Sally * ] as Sally
*] as Bill Turner * Bo Sharon as Bill Turner
*] as Booger Martin * ] as Booger Martin
*] as Vinnie * A.J. Damato as Vinnie Benedetti
*] as Freddie Thompson * ] as Freddie Thompson
*] as Podowski * Troy Fromin as Podowski
*] as Mitzi * ] as Mitzi
*] as Mr. Larson * ] as Mr. Larson
*] as Mrs. Wilson * Billye Ree Wallace as Mrs. Wilson
*] as The Vipers * R.J. Frost as The Vipers
*] as the plumber * Randy Vahan as The Plumber

*] as the arresting cop
==Release==
''Shrunken Heads'' had initially been intended for a theatrical release, but due to funding difficulties Full Moon was experiencing at the time these plans were cancelled with director ] funding the film's L.A. theatrical opening using his own money.<ref name="SHrelease">{{cite magazine |last=Fischer|first=Dennis|date=June 1995 |title= Charles Band: Full Moon Mogul|url=https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2026%20No%204%20%28June%201995%29/page/n15/mode/1up?view=theater |url-status= |magazine=]|location= |publisher= Fourth Castle Micromedia|access-date=February 17, 2023}}</ref>

==Reception==
] of '']'' called it "only mildly entertaining".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1994/film/reviews/shrunken-heads-1200439215/|title=Review: 'Shrunken Heads'|last=Levy|first=Emanuel|work=]|date=1994-11-27|accessdate=2015-02-13}}</ref> J. R. Taylor of '']'' rated it B and wrote, "Elfman's fun-loving touches manage to get this new series up and running with twisted enthusiasm".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1994/10/21/video-review-shrunken-heads|title=Shrunken Heads|last=Taylor|first=J. R.|magazine=]|date=1994-10-21|accessdate=2015-02-13}}</ref> Writing in ''The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia'', academic ] said that the characters "lovingly exaggerate every preposterous line with relish, yielding some outrageous dialogue in an otherwise treadmill production."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia|last=Dendle|first=Peter|authorlink=Peter Dendle|publisher=]|year=2001|pages=160–161|isbn=978-0-7864-9288-6}}</ref>

==Legacy==
In 2021, the film received a comedic commentary by ], ] and ] of ], an offshoot of movie-mocking cult TV series '']''.


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0111175|title=Shrunken Heads}} * {{IMDb title|0111175|Shrunken Heads}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|shrunken_heads}}


{{Richard Elfman}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shrunken Heads}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
]

]

]
{{1990s-crime-film-stub}}
]
{{comedy-horror-film-stub}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 22:51, 18 January 2025

1994 American film
Shrunken Heads
VHS artwork
Directed byRichard Elfman
Written byMatthew Bright
Produced byCharles Band
Starring
CinematographyStephen McNutt
Edited byCharles Simmons
Music by
Production
company		Full Moon Entertainment
Distributed by
Release date
  • May 1, 1994 (1994-05-01)
Running time86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$800,000

Shrunken Heads is a 1994 American independent comedy horror film directed by Richard Elfman and written by Matthew Bright. The film follows three preteen boys who, after being murdered by a vicious gang, are resurrected via voodoo as shrunken heads.

Produced by Full Moon Entertainment and released by Paramount Home Video, this was the last film in which Julius Harris appeared. Director Elfman's brother, Danny Elfman, provided the main theme music, while the rest of the score was composed by Richard Band. Richard's son, Bodhi Elfman, appears in a supporting role.

Plot

New Yorkers Tommy Larson and Bill Turner are best friends who spend their time reading comic books which they buy from Mr. Sumatra's newspaper stand. However, they are also under constant bullying from local hoodlums Vinnie Benedetti, Booger Martin, and Podowski. Tommy also has a major crush on Sally, who happens to be Vinnie's girlfriend. Vinnie works for mob boss "Big Moe", always doing the dirty work.

When newcomer Freddie Thompson gets bullied by Vinnie and the boys, Tommy's attempt to stand up to Vinnie proves futile until Mr. Sumatra saves them as Booger tells Vinnie that something is off with the newspaper stand owner. When Tommy, Bill, and Freddie hatch a plan to have Vinnie and the boys getting busted, Big Moe gets word and she orders Vinnie and the boys to kill the three teens. When they are killed in cold blood, Mr. Sumatra, revealed to be a voodoo priest, resurrects the trio as shrunken heads. Tommy has the power to emit electricity. Bill becomes a vampire. Freddie has the ability to unleash a switchblade from his mouth. The trio uses their new powers to exact revenge and make New York a safe place to live again.

Cast

Release

Shrunken Heads had initially been intended for a theatrical release, but due to funding difficulties Full Moon was experiencing at the time these plans were cancelled with director Richard Elfman funding the film's L.A. theatrical opening using his own money.

Reception

Emanuel Levy of Variety called it "only mildly entertaining". J. R. Taylor of Entertainment Weekly rated it B and wrote, "Elfman's fun-loving touches manage to get this new series up and running with twisted enthusiasm". Writing in The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, academic Peter Dendle said that the characters "lovingly exaggerate every preposterous line with relish, yielding some outrageous dialogue in an otherwise treadmill production."

Legacy

In 2021, the film received a comedic commentary by Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett of RiffTrax, an offshoot of movie-mocking cult TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000.

References

  1. Fischer, Dennis (June 1995). "Charles Band: Full Moon Mogul". Cinefantastique. Fourth Castle Micromedia. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  2. Levy, Emanuel (November 27, 1994). "Review: 'Shrunken Heads'". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  3. Taylor, J. R. (October 21, 1994). "Shrunken Heads". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  4. Dendle, Peter (2001). The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia. McFarland & Company. pp. 160–161. ISBN 978-0-7864-9288-6.

External links

Films directed by Richard Elfman
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