Carl Roberts 
Steamboat Willie gets a sinister makeover in director Steven LaMorte’s horror movie Screamboat. Is it full scream ahead or sink without trace?
Screamboat is a reimagining of Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks’s 1928 animated short film, Steamboat Willie. However, this isn’t any family-friendly cartoon. This is a gory, violent and often funny horror movie that pokes fun at Walt Disney and his works at almost every turn. Though the Walt Disney Company retains exclusive rights to its own Mickey Mouse universe, the Steamboat Willie version of the character entered the public domain on January 1, 2024. Featuring David Howard Thornton as Steamboat Willie, in this case, a murderous mouse with a penchant for death, the film is sailing into cinemas on April 2nd. But is the film a full scream-ahead enjoyable horror flick, or should it have sunk without a trace?
PREMISE
The plot follows a group of New Yorkers who are terrorized by a monstrous mouse. The story of a late-night ferry ride in New York City. Commuters, deckhands and all the usual passengers are attacked by a murderous and mischievous mouse. He is mean, tiny, and loves getting up to no good.
THOUGHTS
Anyone looking for high art or a film with deep meaning needs to look elsewhere. This certainly ain’t it! With a premise as the film has and the events the film contains, this is one of those films that appears to make a quick buck and then vanish. That being said, writers Matthew Garcia-Dunn and Steven LaMorte actually have put some thought into what they bring to the screen. They know it is preposterous and totally crazy. But that doesn’t stop them from delivering something that is entertaining and amusing.
When you have a horror movie that uses many Disney movie lines prevalent throughout, along with visual nods to the original cartoon, you know what you’re in for. Within the first few minutes, we get a plaque bearing the name ‘Mortimer’ (Disney fans will know that Mickey Mouse was originally named Mortimer Mouse.) This tells us all we need to know. But what could and, by rights, should have been a tasteless, unashamed cash-grab, and a rip-off becomes anything but. It isn’t anything too original, but boy, it is fun. To be completely honest, it is almost a remake of the first half of Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhatten. Just instead of Jason Voorhees, we have a psychotic killer mouse. It sounds nuts because it is. And it revels in it.
THE CAST
Let’s get this out of the way. Most of the cast are disposable fodder for the deranged rodent killer. The characters that we focus on the most are Allison Pittel as Selena. Amy Schumacher as Amber. Jesse Posey as Pete and, of course, David Howard Thornton as Steamboat Willie. Allison Pittel, Amy Schumacher (who also helps produce), and Jesse Posey are great in their roles, becoming the cast members who we follow and cheer for throughout. But none of them can hold a candle to David Howard Thornton. Hot on the heels of his repeat portrayal of Art The Clown in Terrifier 3, Thornton is hilariously brilliant as Willie. His dialogue is composed of squeaks and whistles from start to finish.
Speaking of whistles, Willie (and the film) uses the tunes from the original cartoon short. This is a masterstroke, giving the audience some hilarious fun along the way. One whistled tune will have the audience in fits of giggles. Thornton plays the psychotic rodent like he’s acting in an Oscar-nominated epic. The actor is buried behind tons of makeup and a mouse suit, but his sheer class and personality shine through. Playing Art The Clown gives Thornton the edge in portraying Willie. He embraces the role, breathing life into the character that we wouldn’t expect.
THE VIOLENCE AND GORE
Anyone who knows what the producers of the Terrifier franchise are capable of will understand what they are in for. Screamboat is no different. Although the violence and gore can’t quite match the heights (or lows, depending on your opinion) of the three Terrifier movies, it does come close. Impalements, skull crushes and other violent deaths come thick and fast throughout. One death may disturb the audience. That’s if they can stop laughing at it so much. I won’t spoil it for you, but it comes during a sexual act. The death also comes back into play later on to hilarious effect with another cast member. To say I was crying with laughter at both scenes would be an understatement. I guess it shows I have a sick sense of humour when it comes to these movies. Believe me, you’ll need it with Screamboat.
VERDICT
The film isn’t the best horror comedy you’ll see. But it is miles away from being the worst. The title alone will tell you what you’re in for. With the addition of some brilliant black-and-white animation that throws back to the original cartoon at the midway point, the audience is guaranteed to have a fun time. Just look at the theatrical poster for Screamboat. The shooting star overhead will tell you the film will rip the life out of Disney. And it does. At every turn, the film sends up the Disney movies and cartoons to brilliantly comedic effect. The audience will need to keep their eyes and ears open throughout to get every reference, but it adds to the film’s charm. This is despite the fact of the blood and gore on offer.
After the Winnie The Pooh: Blood & Honey movies, Piglet, Peter Pan Neverland Nightmare and Bambi: The Reckoning, we finally get a fairly decent Disney-inspired horror movie. It won’t win any awards, but it is an enjoyable way to spend 102 minutes. I can’t call it harmless or innocent entertainment, as that would be a blatant lie, but I can call it blood-soaked and enjoyable fun. Can there be a sequel? Take a wild guess, and you’d be right. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind another voyage with Steamboat Willie and his brand of bloodthirsty, violent mayhem. The film isn’t always plain sailing, but it is a fun voyage regardless. Sit back, turn off your brain, and sail away on the Screamboat. Book your tickets now!
Screamboat will be in cinemas on April 2nd, courtesy of Signature Entertainment.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
