Nothing but Trouble (Dan Aykroyd, 1991)

The understandable vitriol this film received upon release is a classic case of genre misdirection. A putative comedy starring comedic talents and written/directed by a comedian, Nothing but Trouble packs its biggest wallop as a horror film. In fact, it's one of the most genuinely scary entries in the old dark house subgenre. Chevy Chase and Demi Moore play Manhattan yuppies who, while on a road trip with Brazilian billionaires Taylor Negron and Bertila Damas, wind up in a cavernous estate presided over by a 106-year-old judge (Dan Aykroyd, in pustule-ridden makeup) who puts the unsuspecting principals through a series of nightmarish Rube-Goldberg-like contraptions including a lethal rollercoaster called The Bonestripper. John Candy does double duty as the local sheriff and the judge's mute granddaughter [sic]. Aykroyd does quadruple duty as one of a pair of deformed grandsons who look like charred Teletubbies. Digital Undeground provide a musical interlude and escape the judge's wrath with a rendition of "Same Song" (look for Tupac in his first film appearance). I don't recall laughing even once. But I found it a consistently inventive ride more than a little reminiscent of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Comedy fans, avoid this like The Bonsetripper. But horror fans should take a bite.

Grade: A-minus