Wicked Stepmother (1989)

User Rating:

2.7/10   

Director:

Larry Cohen

Writer (WGA):

Larry Cohen (written by)

Release Date:

3 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

Beware of these "Bette Davis eyes"!

Plot:

A mother/daughter pair of witches descend on a yuppie family's home and cause havoc, one at a time since...

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Chain Smoking | Rescue | Miniaturization | Private Investigator

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Miranda Pierpoint
Barbara Carrera	...	Priscilla
Colleen Camp	...	Jenny Fisher
Lionel Stander	...	Sam
David Rasche	...	Steve Fisher
Shawn Donahue	...	Mike
Tom Bosley	...	Lt. MacIntosh
Richard Moll	...	Nathan Pringle
Evelyn Keyes	...	Witch Instructor
James Dixon	...	Detective Flynn
Seymour Cassel	...	Feldshine, Magick Shop Owner
Susie Garrett	...	Mandy
Laurene Landon	...	Vanilla
Bob Goen	...	Game Show Host
Robert Frank Telfer	...	Game Show Producer

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:LH (video rating) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Company:

Larco Productions

Trivia:

Final film performance of Evelyn Keyes.

Quotes:

Miranda Pierpoint: Call me mama!

Movie Connections:

References "The Hollywood Squares" (1965)

I liked it!

Sadly this film has been trashed over and over. But Bette Davis actually saves this movie from being totally forgotten. It was our last opportunity to see her act before her passing in Oct 1989. She doesn't look anywhere near as bad as she thought she did; in the scene where she meets her new step-grandson, she looks very effective in her white ensemble.

It has it's funny moments, Bette is both dry and witty in her principal scenes and I'd love to see it out on DVD. I gave it 8 out of 10. No problems with the production design nor direction. Cohen made a courageous attempt to put together a quick fix storyline after Bette Davis walked out after one week's filming and I salute him for giving Bette a final opportunity to appear on screen. She's wonderful in her too few scenes. A complete riot. If only it could have been completed, this would have been quite a comedy.

Thanks to the cast and crew for working on this film after the difficulties. If they hadn't, we'd never have seen the scene's Bette did film.

I liked it!