Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (1996)

Two creepy "horror" films joined together by Merlin's Shop which is, in turn, introduced by a Grandpa telling the story.

Director:

Kenneth J. Berton

Writer:

Kenneth J. Berton

Stars:

Ernest Borgnine, George Milan, Bunny Summers

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ernest Borgnine	...	Grandfather
George Milan	...	Merlin
Bunny Summers	...	Zurella
John Terrence	...	Jonathan Cooper III
Patricia Sansone	...	Madeline Cooper
Mark Hurtado	...	Grandson
Nicholas Noyes	...	Nicholas
Hillary Young	...	Nicholas' Mother
Julia Leigh Miller	...	Antique Store Clerk (as Julia Miller)
Ben Sussman	...	Peddler in park (Jake Cosgrove)
Randy Chandler	...	Burglar
Bob Mendelsohn	...	David Andrews (archive footage) (as Bob Mendlesohn)
Struan Robertson	...	Michael Andrews (archive footage)
Bruce Parry	...	Pete (archive footage)
Vicki Saputo	...	Susan (archive footage)

Storyline

This is a movie within a TV movie within a made-for-video movie. A boy is watching TV when a power outage forces him to talk to his grandpa for entertainment. His grandpa, a former screenwriter, re-tells an old screenplay about Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders. In it, Merlin sets up an enchanting store in a modern-day strip mall, accompanied by his gleeful wife and gnomes, snakes, dragons, etc. From this framing device, we then see two stories about people's encounters with items from the shop. The first sequence (created for this film but looking like an episode of "Tales From The Darkside") involves a pompous, cranky newspaper critic who begins casting spells using Merlin's spell book. The second story, an edited version of the full length movie, The Devil's Gift, is about an evil monkey doll (you know, the wicked grin and the cymbals?) who kills every time his hands clap. Merlin of the 1990s is disjointedly tied-in with the 1980 movie.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | cymbal | monkey | dragon | book of magic | 

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Taglines:

In a world where magic truely (sic) exists, anything can happen.

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shameless copies the plot of the Stephen King short story "The Monkey", published 11 years before this film was released.

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Goofs

When the power goes out, the grandson says "Now I'm gonna miss the movie." Seconds later, a young boy in dark clothes walks by in the background, on the right side.

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Quotes

Michael Andrews: It's Martian time!
[sings]
Michael Andrews: Rock n' roll Martian! Rock n' roll Martian!

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Connections

Referenced in I Hate Everything: the Search for the Worst: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (2015)

User Reviews

Merlin's Shop of Miserable CRAP.

Films don't get any cheaper than this stitched together piece of padding, in which retired screenwriter/grandpa Ernest Borgnine relates "sweet" bedtime stories about the legendary Merlin (Yes, that Merlin. Merlin probably changed management after doing this movie) to his world-weary, seven year old grandson. Grandpa Borgnine's sweet, folksy, suitable for children tales are chock full of horrible death, crying children, murdered house pets, and abusive husbands, plus a fun cameo by Satan himself!

The makers of this film probably didn't realize that their kiddy movie wasn't kid-like at all- because the bulk of the "stories" are footage from some other mid-to-late seventies movie about a killer monkey toy. Despite all the ugliness in these segments, there is a charming moment where a young boy happily sings "Rock and Roll Martian" to the stuffed monkey. This is probably the best scene in the whole, feature length movie.

The other story segment, the one with the bickering, self-hating couple who can't conceive (kids love those kinds of stories!) has all the style and substance of an episode of "Monsters".

This movie is filled to the brim by horrible acting, atrocious dialog, and some of the most laughable editing since Ed Wood's legendary day/night/day scenes.

So don't hesitate to watch this movie.... if it comes on the late, great Mystery Science Theater 3000. Otherwise, you've been warned! ROCK AND ROLL MARTIAN!!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 August 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders

Filming Locations:

Petaluma, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Berton Films, Brencam Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 88 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1