A One Mann’s Movies Film Review of “Hanky Panky” (2024).
I sometimes get sent screeners for movies that – erm – will normally struggle to get a cinema release. Many of them are almost unwatchable pants (hmmm… killer pants… where is my scriptwriting pad?) But sometimes they become quirky, strangely watchable oddities. “Hanky Panky”, sent to me by Actor/Writer/Co-director Nick Roth and soon to be on streaming services, is one such movie. You’ll probably find yourself either thinking “this it’s bat-shit crazy nonsense”. Or you’ll find yourself weirdly drawn into the madness!
Given this is 100% a “Marmite movie”, I’m not sure my rating is remotely relevant here! But….
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
A group of old friends come for a reunion in a remote ski-lodge… like an all-white version of “The Blackening“. But they are a queer bunch: Sam (Jacob DeMonte-Finn) talks to his handkerchief (who talks back to him!); Lilith (Azure Parson) who is literally a two-faced freak and her doctor-carer Dr Crane (Nick Roth); an overly-familiar brother and sister, Rebecca (Lindsey Haun) and Norm (Toby Bryan); a constantly arguing couple Carla (Christina Laskay) and Cliff (Anthony Rutowicz) and free-wheeling soul Diane (Ashley Holliday Tavares). But things take a turn for the bizarre and the bodies start to mount up as a storm rolls in.
Certification:
UK: NR; US: NR. (Not rated, but likely to be at least a ’15’ in the UK due to the Full Frontal Male Nudity and (comedy) violence).
Talent:
Starring: Jacob DeMonte-Finn, Ashley Holliday Tavares, Lindsey Haun, Toby Bryan, Christina Laskay, Anthony Rutowicz, Nick Roth, Azure Parson, Clare Grant, Seth Green.
Directed by: Lindsey Haun & Nick Roth.
Written by: Nick Roth.
Twitter Handle: #HankyPankyMovie.
Running Time: 1h 26m.
“Hanky Panky” Film Review:
Positives:
- It’s a movie that knows it’s schlock comedy/horror and leans well into that. There are scenes of knockabout farce (a slapping scene for example), absurd visual humour and some dialogue that is genuinely clever. ‘Woody’, the handkerchief, is a case in point. Absurdist comedy, but there is something brilliant about a napkin that is sexually aroused by having to mop up other people’s ‘messes’.
- The effects are cheap and slapdash: obviously deliberately so, such that they support the concept of the film. Like “Thunderbirds” in the 60’s, this is animation that definitely comes with strings attached!
- Taking the acting award for me is Ashley Holliday Tavares as the moose-roomed-out hippy-chick Diane. She genuinely made me laugh with her comic expressions and a psychiatry session in a remote ice hut (I’m not making this up, honestly) is dead-pan brilliance.
- How on earth did these guys get Seth Green to voice Harry the Hat? (My guess would be through Clare Grant’s phone book, since I notice she was in Green’s “Robot Chicken” movie!)
- A running joke in here is the dodgy relationship between brother and sister Rebecca (Lindsey Haun) and Norm (Toby Bryan). The ‘elephant in the room’ (if you’ll pardon the pun) is Norm’s penis which seems to be on-show more times than not! Even in a final death scene (#spoilers) he dies fully clothed but is then found naked and legs akimbo! LOL!
Negatives:
- There are many people who have seen “The Room” and fail to find it remotely funny. They are likely to hate this one too. There’s a sense in which you have to heavily lean into the lunacy and the dodgy voices and effects. And if you can’t do that, you’re likely to be switching channels after ten minutes.
- The comedy is rather uneven. There are some scenes in here that simply don’t work (or at least, didn’t work for me).
- An absurd final battle between Harry and Woody goes on for far (FAR) too long. There is a limit to my patience and this scene exceeded it!
Summary Thoughts on “Hanky Panky”
Just like “The Room”, this feels like a film that could (if enough see it) gather a strong student fan-base. Take a student common room; a couple of kegs of beer; some dodgy kebabs and put this on and I reckon the room would have a fun night. For those with a more civilized palate… it’s probably not for you. But I might be wrong…. you might have fun trying something a bit different!
“Hanky Panky” is streaming from April 19th on Apple, Prime Video, Google, and “many other VOD platforms with even funnier names”. (Nick Roth comment!)
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Hanky Panky”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqKFZm04ViM .
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