Willy’s Wonderland: Why The Nicolas Cage Horror-Comedy Is B-Movie Heaven

Willy’s Wonderland Is Chock Full Of Classic Grindhouse Call-Backs

From the opening frame of Willy’s Wonderland, you can already guess what kind of experience you are in for. If you were to guess that it is a loving tribute to the old school, rebellious, homemade style of filmmaking seen in ‘70s movies and ‘80s movies from the era of exploitation cinema, you would be 100 percent correct.

It is clear that G.O. Parsons and director Kevin Lewis were on the same train of thought and had the same passion for second rate horror when collaborating on this darkly comic fantasy. From the stupid but snappy dialogue, vintage production design, grainy camera filters, Dutch angles, and immersive close-ups, nearly every single moment is played so seriously and in such gloriously over-the-top form that it is impossible to take your eyes off of it. I imagine that even someone who does not prefer this sort of filmmaking, but is at least familiar with the style, will have no choice but to be impressed with their devotion the craft.