Phantom of the Mall: Erik's Revenge (1989), dir. Richard Friedman, Fries Entertainment
Moving into our homage section, we see a take on Leroux's antihero that somehow is the most 80's thing we'll see this month.
Melody (Kari Whitman) hasn't been having a great summer. Sure, there's a new mall that opened up and it's awesome but her boyfriend Erik (Derek Rydall) died. Real bummer too; Melody was chilling at his house with his parents when their house caught. Erik managed to save her but the house collapsed on him.
Still, the mall being built right over his house means she knows the way there. She and her pal Susie (Kimber Sissons) even get jobs there. There are some kinks however. Items seem to be missing, then there are the deaths.
Yup, deaths. The mall pianist tries to mug Melody but gets a crossbow bolt through his spine for his troubles. A peeping tom security guard is found crushed into an electrical box; you know, typical opening week jitters.
Peter Baldwin (Rob Estes) is a reporter and even he can see something's afoot. He gets closer to Melody to try and figure out what's going on, but will they uncover the truth?
At least it isn't another Faust retread? I'll give it props for being set inside the most 80's setting they could but they reveal far too much. Call me crazy, but I think Erik might be behind everything. The villains are also so utterly transparent you'll figure out their scheme as soon as they walk on camera.
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