The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro does the same, doing a spot-on impersonation of a young adult horror project. It has a similar feel to the made-up supernatural ’90s show featured in I Saw The TV Glow, except here the filmmakers were even more committed to emulating the source inspiration. Fishel and Swanson are so devoted to making a parody that could pass off as the real thing that they have the audience laughing with them, not at them. The deadpan delivery and how seriously everyone treats the material imbues the whole thing with a constant humor hum that doesn’t let up. Two original songs play in their entirety, just like a ’60s Jayne Mansfield film. While I don’t usually approve of dropping whole songs in non-musical films, these two songs were jaw-dropping, ear-popping great. They were so great that after hearing them in the movie and then playing again during the credits, I rewound and watched both songs again.
I will admit, I was skeptical at first about The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro, with one eyebrow arched so high you could ski jump off it. The previews were really amusing, with the complete Bigfoot short that the trailer is based on being included after the end credits. I would actually watch the Christmas movie because even though it is a gag, it looks like an exceptional entry into that genre. When the actual movie started, I was taken aback by the contrast between its well-shot visuals and the awkward tone.
Master Cabral (Brian Ceponis) demonstrates his skills in this scene from The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro.
“Fishel and Swanson are so devoted to making a parody that could pass off as the real thing…”
I then noticed the constant referencing to the name of their high school, Mors High. Old stoners everywhere instantly will pick up the reference to the Firesign Theater, who featured a high school by the same name as the setting of their classic album Don’t Step On The Dwarf, Pass Me The Pliers. The principal’s voice on the intercom solidifies the reference, which is either intentional or the result of being raised by pot heads. That is when I realized the awkwardness was intentional, just like it was in Kids In The Hall. Once you are in on the gag, you cannot stop giggling, especially if you add a pinch of THC.
Additionally, it is clever how the trailers are later incorporated into the story. Much of the humor is generational, poking fun at life now that phones dominate our world. There is also a level of sophistication that is maintained because this is not cheese on purpose at all. The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro breaks cult movie frontiers by showing how to be bizarre without being inappropriate.
I already want to watch it again while flattening a sack of Cheech & Chong’s Drooler weed.
For more information, visit The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro official website.
"…breaks cult movie frontiers by showing how to be bizarre without being inappropriate."
