FilmSnobReviews

Title: Willy’s Wonderland
MPAA Rating: TV-MA
Director: Kevin Lewis
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Emily Tosta, Beth Grant
Runtime: 1 hr 28 mins

What It Is: When a drifter mysteriously breaks down in a small desert town he’s pretty much stranded. When he’s told his car can be fixed he thinks that’s a great idea. He’ll just pay for whatever it cost. The problem is he has no cash, there are no ATMs here and so a solution is reached that he will work off this debt as a janitor for the night at a creepy and notoriously haunted children’s dining establishment called Willy’s Wonderland and all of its demented inhabitants.

What We Think: So this is what a Five Nights at Freddy’s movie for adults looks like. Nicholas Cage says exactly zero lines of dialogue in this. He and his performance are better for that because the dialogue in this that IS said isn’t all that great. Bloody good action scenes all really well shot and the horror atmosphere make every second palpable. You know that eerie feeling animatronics naturally give us? Well this film shows us the reason that exists. All of those creatures are absolutely terrifying. Beth Grant is great here. The teenagers (lead by Tosta) are irritating so watching them allow the horror tropes to play out on. them is a fun treat. That being said I enjoyed Tosta here. This is her first film and it’ll be interesting to see where she goes from here.

Our Grade: B-, This is a really intense affair that never once for a single second takes itself too seriously. It’s all the better for that. Nicholas Cage has done some crazy films in the last few years. This one is among the best of them. Cage feels like he was the perfect casting, a feat we normally don’t have the luxury of saying. Regardless check this one out when it drops its a worthwhile and fun night in for those who do.