Willy’s Wonderland (2021)

Willy’s Wonderland is a horror comedy that takes place in what can best be described as a Chuck E. Cheese from hell. Where a deranged staff of psychopaths sacrificed themselves, only to transfer their essence into the animatronic mascots of the establishment. Let’s consider the pros and cons of Willy’s Wonderland…

Pros: Firstly, there’s something inherently funny about an over-the-top badass slapping around cartoonishly large puppets. This movie knows exactly how ridiculous it is, but also finds a good balance between it’s comedic and horror elements. Lastly is the film’s length, which is just under an hour and a half. It’s short and sweet, which is important for a plot this basic.

Cons: Firstly, this may be considered a “spoiler”, but the unnamed janitor played by Nicolas Cage, doesn’t have a single line of dialogue. As impressive as it is for characters to use actions instead of words, it doesn’t exactly serve the story in any meaningful way. He’s at the mercy of bystander’s conversations, which is unusual for a lead character. He can definitely handle himself, don’t get me wrong, but it’s slightly gimmicky and worth knowing before watching. Lastly, this movie is filled with horror tropes. From the doomed side characters to the remote setting, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before. However, that’s all part of the overall joke, so take my criticism with a grain of salt.

I give Willy’s Wonderland a B-. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and neither should you! The dark comedy makes up for the lack of dialogue, and Nic Cage is as manic as ever. Happy Watching!

“It’s your Birthday and we want you to have fun!”