Forbidden Zone Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A family finds a portal to another dimension in their basement and chaos ensues, involving a jealous queen, a lustful king, and a whole lot of musical numbers.

🍿 Forbidden Zone: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Hercules Family and the Mysterious Door

The Hercules family moves into a new house in Venice, California, unaware of the bizarre secret hidden in their basement. A mysterious door leads to the Sixth Dimension, a chaotic and surreal world unlike anything they could imagine. The family’s daughter, Frenchy, soon discovers this portal and ventures into the unknown.

Journey to the Sixth Dimension

Frenchy’s curiosity leads her through the intestinal gateway and into the Sixth Dimension, a realm ruled by the diminutive King Fausto and his jealous Queen Doris. The Sixth Dimension is populated by strange creatures, including a frog butler, a topless princess, and other eccentric characters. Frenchy’s arrival disrupts the delicate balance of power.

Rescue Mission and Chaotic Climax

When Frenchy is captured by Queen Doris, the Hercules family and their friend Squeezit embark on a rescue mission into the Sixth Dimension. Their journey is filled with absurd encounters, musical numbers, and bizarre challenges. The family confronts Satan himself, navigates treacherous landscapes, and ultimately faces off against Queen Doris in a battle for Frenchy’s freedom.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Frenchy Hercules (Marie-Pascale Elfman): A young woman who discovers a portal to the Sixth Dimension in her basement and becomes entangled in its bizarre affairs.
• King Fausto (Hervé Villechaize): The diminutive, lustful ruler of the Sixth Dimension who falls for Frenchy.
• Queen Doris (Susan Tyrrell): The jealous and tyrannical queen of the Sixth Dimension, threatened by Frenchy’s arrival.
• Squeezit Henderson (Matthew Bright): A classmate of Frenchy and Flash who reluctantly joins the rescue mission to the Sixth Dimension.
• Flash Hercules (Phil Gordon): Frenchy’s brother who attempts to rescue her from the Sixth Dimension.
• Satan (Danny Elfman): A devilish figure in the Sixth Dimension who makes deals and adds to the chaotic nature of the realm.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Chicken: “You know the chickens are always ready to help you any way we can. But as you know…” – The Chicken hints at his limited capabilities, emphasizing the film’s absurdist humor.
• Squeezit: “What can chickens do?” – Squeezit questions the practical help a chicken can offer, highlighting the film’s bizarre logic.
• Chicken: “Precisely.” – The Chicken’s deadpan response underscores the film’s nonsensical and self-aware humor.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Forbidden Zone Reviews

Personal Review

I first stumbled upon ‘Forbidden Zone’ late one night, and I was immediately hooked. The sheer audacity of it all is breathtaking. The low budget adds to the charm, and the musical numbers are surprisingly catchy. The scene where Danny Elfman appears as Satan is pure gold! It’s not a movie I can recommend to everyone, but if you’re looking for something truly unique and weird, this is it. I still find myself humming “The Witch’s Egg”.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of cult classic films”
  • “Those who enjoy surreal humor”
  • “Viewers interested in avant-garde cinema”
  • “Fans of Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo’s music”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Surreal and bizarre content”
  • “Nudity and suggestive themes”
  • “Offensive racial stereotypes (historical context)”
  • “Potentially disturbing imagery”

Professional Reviews

• Cult Movie Review Site: “Forbidden Zone is a truly unique cinematic experience. Its low-budget charm and chaotic energy create a bizarre world that’s hard to forget. While not for everyone, those who appreciate the absurd will find much to love.
• The Avant-Garde Gazette: “Elfman’s fever dream is a triumph of imagination over resources. The black and white cinematography adds to the surreal atmosphere, and the musical numbers are infectious. The racial stereotypes are there but very silly to be taken seriously.
• Midnight Movie Madness: “For those who enjoy cult classics and the bizarre, this is a must-see. It’s a mix of musical numbers, quirky characters, and strange plot twists that keep you engaged, The film is quite tasteless, but the film is fun if the viewer turns their brain off.

Audience Reactions

The soundtrack by Danny Elfman and The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo is a masterpiece of weirdness.: Viewers praise the originality and the unique blend of music, comedy, and surreal visuals.

Susan Tyrrell’s performance as Queen Doris is both terrifying and hilarious.: Fans admire the film’s fearlessness and the cast’s commitment to the bizarre material.

Overall Consensus: A bizarre, low-budget cult classic that’s not for everyone, but adored by those who appreciate the strange and surreal.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Richard Elfman and Marie-Pascale Elfman, who were married at the time, financed the movie by buying, renovating, and selling houses.”
• “Danny Elfman’s score was his first foray into film music, setting the stage for his prolific career as a composer.”
• “The film was shot in black and white due to budgetary constraints, but the aesthetic adds to its surreal and retro feel.”

🖥️ How to Watch Forbidden Zone?

As a cult classic, ‘Forbidden Zone’ is available through various online retailers for purchase on DVD. Streaming options may vary by region and platform. Check availability on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and smaller independent streaming services specializing in cult films.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Forbidden Zone, you might like these similar films:

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975): Both films are cult musical comedies with outrageous characters and surreal plots.
• Eraserhead (1977): Shares a similar avant-garde and nightmarish atmosphere, pushing the boundaries of conventional filmmaking.
• Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985): Captures a similar spirit of whimsical absurdity and visual inventiveness, reflecting Danny Elfman’s musical influence.
• Greaser’s Palace (1972): Another surreal western comedy with over-the-top characters and a bizarre narrative.

🛒 Forbidden Zone Related Products

• Forbidden Zone (Blu-ray): A newly remastered Blu-ray edition of Forbidden Zone. This collector’s item includes exclusive bonus content, interviews with the cast and crew, and behind-the-scenes footage, offering a deep dive into the making of this cult classic.
• Forbidden Zone: Original Soundtrack: The complete soundtrack featuring Danny Elfman and The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. Relive the musical madness with every track. Also available as a digital download, so you can groove to it wherever you go.
• Forbidden Zone Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the film’s original poster. This poster is a must-have for fans who want to display their love for this cult classic.
• Oingo Boingo T-Shirt: A classic Oingo Boingo T-shirt featuring the band’s logo and artwork inspired by ‘Forbidden Zone’. Made with high-quality materials, this shirt is comfortable and durable, perfect for everyday wear.

🎧 Soundtrack

Forbidden Zone features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Some of These Days” – performed by Cab Calloway
• “Witch’s Egg” – performed by Susan Tyrrell
• “Minnie the Moocher” – performed by Danny Elfman

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Danny Elfman On His “Embarrassing” Oingo Boingo Days

Ever wondered what Danny Elfman thinks about his Oingo Boingo days? He calls them “embarrassing”! Get ready for a super interesting, and self-deprecating look into his past.

Forbidden Zone – Bim Bam Boom

This is one of the weirdest scenes in the movie, and that’s saying something! See Frenchy’s entrance into the Forbidden Zone. You won’t believe what happens next!

Forbidden Zone in Color: ‘Alphabet Song’

Want to see ‘Forbidden Zone’ in color? Check out this crazy ‘Alphabet Song’ scene, and learn about the inspiration behind it! It’s like nothing else you’ve ever seen.

✨ Rate