In Don Swanson’s The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro, four high school students—Jayden (Rachel O’Day), Kayden (Madeline Schlichter), Hayden (Jaden Wesley Brown), and Payden (Angela Kuzel)—are cramming for a crucial Latin American History test focused on Prince Dom Pedro, the famed Liberator of Brazil. Their teacher, Mr. D’Ath (Christopher Kai), warns that good fortune awaits those who pass, but those who fail could face doom. While joking around after school with memes and board games, the friends begin hearing strange whispers—commentary on their lives from the voice of Prince Dom Pedro himself (André Santana). Things escalate when both Hayden and Payden die under mysterious, supernatural circumstances linked to the haunting voice. All we see as the audience is the hand of Dom Pedro touching them.
Jayden and Kayden become determined to investigate the deaths of their friends and uncover the truth behind the curse. Jayden begins experiencing visions of her dead friends and uncovers dark legends surrounding their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coaches—Mr. D’Ath and Senor Clarke (Joe Fishel)—both known for brutal tactics and rumored use of black magic to gain the upper hand on their opponents. Their investigation takes them to forbidden books stored away for mocking Dom Pedro and popular Brazilian vacation destinations. A vision of their deceased friends pushes the girls deeper into their quest to understand the curse and its origins.
Their search for answers leads them to a number of strange allies. Jayden meets Master Cabral (Brian Ceponis), a rival of their old coaches, and Kayden must defeat the enigmatic Gamemaster (Lorin Foster) in a board game to gain critical knowledge. As Jayden and Kayden piece together the history and the haunting, the voice of Dom Pedro continues to echo around them.
A costumed creature appears in the woods in this horror-comedy moment from The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro.
“…determined to investigate the deaths of their friends and uncover the truth behind the curse.”
Did I mention this is a comedy that’s a horror film? Or is it a horror film that’s a comedy? Either way, this is a very silly film from Don Swanson and Joe Fishel, the makers of other silly classics like Bigfoot Unleashed, Part VII, which I have reviewed, and whose trailer appears before and during The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro.
What I’ll say is the film is flawed but fun, particularly if you’re in the right frame of mind. It’s best not to take anything that happens on screen too seriously. As the horror plays out, the comedy plays in the background. It’s all so subtle and played with deadly seriousness.
The film is aimed at a young teen/pre-teen audience. It serves as an excellent primer to get your kids into horror. The scary fun is played with a wink, with the horror elements given the respect they deserve. This is horror for youth softened by silly laughs. Rachel O’Day and Madeline Schlichter make great leads as Jayden and Kayden.
Lastly, The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro is a nice little indie film. Sort of a low-budget Troma movie…if that’s even possible.
The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro works best when you lean into its mix of campy horror and offbeat comedy. Don Swanson and Joe Fishel craft a strange, silly world where high school drama collides with ghostly vengeance and ancient curses. It’s a fun gateway horror film for younger audiences that never takes itself too seriously, except when it hilariously pretends to.
"…horror for youth softened by silly laughs."
