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Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Play trailer 1:00 Poster for Elvira, Mistress of the Dark PG-13 1988 1h 36m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
58% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
The cult-movie TV hostess (Phil Rubenstein) inherits an old New England house, a poodle and a black-magic cookbook.
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Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

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Critics Consensus

A gothic, campy, raunchy comedy elevated by Cassandra Peterson's iconic persona yet driven off course by one-note jokes, this isn't the best — or worst — introduction to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

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Critics Reviews

View All (26) Critics Reviews
Anton Bitel Little White Lies Elvira is all sarky, smutty sex positivity, making a prominent display of her two best assets: her verbal wit, and her ability to laugh at everything and everyone including, first and foremost, herself. Dec 11, 2018 Full Review Time Out A predictable plot and cheapskate effects deaden Elvira's occasional witty lines, while references to the horror genre make the film busy without going anywhere. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Caryn James New York Times There are only a couple of fresh and funny moments. Rated: 2/5 May 20, 2003 Full Review Kat Halstead Common Sense Media It may fall into the "so bad it's good" category—it even won a Razzie—but this cult horror comedy is smarter than it first appears. Nov 13, 2024 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast Utterly delightful, with a very committed Cassandra Peterson delivering an all-time-great goofball performance. Rated: 4/5 Nov 3, 2022 Full Review Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast A hilarious and witty send-up of small town puritanical values with stand-out performances by Peterson and MVP McClurg. Elvira is a sex-positive feminist icon and this film deserves way more credit in horror comedy circles. Rated: 4/5 Nov 2, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Melissa M Some moments in the movie that are LOL. is when Chastity Pariah has her morality picnic & Elvira unknowingly makes a devilishly delicious dish that turns the picnic into dirty dancing. And when Elvira does a parody of Flashdance. It's very cheeky. The movie has some originality to it. For instance : Elvira's familiar is a dog & not a cat. In most cases it's usually a feline. When Elvira is going to be burned at the stake & she uses her ring to start a rainstorm to put the fire out. When the local kids in town help her to fix house she inherited. When it's finished it looks like something Rainbow Brite would live in. The explanation of Elvira's family heritage. There are some parts that have been done dozens of times before: Like the part with the exploding gas station. It's one of the few films where the soundtrack is as good as the movie. This film is definitely a fan favorite. And the perfect movie for those who are just discovering Elvira. Unpleasant dreams. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/29/25 Full Review Ralph R Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is a hilariously campy comedy that doesn’t take itself seriously, and that’s what makes it so much fun. Cassandra Peterson shines as Elvira, delivering sharp one-liners and an unapologetically bold performance that carries the film. The story of Elvira shaking up a small conservative town is filled with outrageous humor, cheesy effects, and a good-hearted message about staying true to yourself. It’s silly, self-aware, and endlessly entertaining. Perfect for anyone looking for a lighthearted, laugh-out-loud good time. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/30/24 Full Review Jonathan O This is Elvira's huge 😏 horror comedy moment and is really funny she acts very well and funny and great special effects and tongue and cheek to old horror films and if you love Elvira and Elvira's restaurant at Claremont California y'all gonna love it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/13/24 Full Review V M Just fun!! Simple uncomplicated dirty-ish fun! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/27/24 Full Review lena s 5/5 because i love elvira Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/24 Full Review Emery A It has a very simple and fun plot that tries to demonstrate how people react to what is different, but the focus is on the character Elvira who is a great icon of gothic culture, she conveys good humor and an open sensuality that is part of her essence. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

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Movie Info

Synopsis The cult-movie TV hostess (Phil Rubenstein) inherits an old New England house, a poodle and a black-magic cookbook.
Director
James Signorelli
Producer
Eric Gardner, Marc Pierson
Screenwriter
Sam Egan, John Paragon, Cassandra Peterson
Production Co
Queen B Productions, New World Pictures, Panacea Entertainment, NBC Productions
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 20, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.1M
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Surround
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