Hanky Panky

Sam (Jacob DeMonte-Finn) is mistakenly invited to a remote mountain cabin getaway. It's a gathering of friends and non-friends. Well, this got real weird out of nowhere. It is definitely an indie. At least, the filmmaking is very indie. It does have Seth Green and his real-life wife. Initially, I was going to give this a negative review, but the craziness won me over. Apparently, somebody wanted to put in some of the weirdest ideas into a movie and I'm all for it. When the napkin started to talk, I wasn't sure what was happening. I don't mind one bit that the wire is fully visible. There are moments where I laughed at the absurdity, but I wouldn't call this movie funny. Everybody is putting it out there, but nobody is actually all that funny. This is stupid, but I enjoyed some of the stupidity.

Hanky Panky is co-directed by Lindsey Haun and Nick Roth, a very off-kilter, absurd, and easily cult-followed film. The film, with its unique storyline, odd humor, and surprising speckles of depth, easily makes it memorable material, but then again, what thrusts "Hanky Panky" into an entirely distinctive realm is the eccentric core of the movie: a man and his talking napkin on a mission to save the world from an obscure threat hiding out in a remote Utah cabin. Haun and Roth make the film playful enough to really appeal to the audience. It's the kind of gem that you won't come across too often, where humor is placed on top of a genuinely rich emotional subtext to create a picture, something that is definitely sure to resonate for years.

This film clearly operates on a low budget, and it shows, from the awkward ADR to the dry, sometimes redundant dialogue. The idea of a sentient handkerchief is wildly original and fun, reminiscent of quirky B-horror movies like Jack Frost or The Stuff. Unfortunately, the execution doesn't always match the creativity of the concept. The intro drags, and while there are some genuinely funny moments, the film often leans more on "tell" than "show," which hurts its pacing. The special effects are campy, possibly intentionally so, but still distracting. It seems aimed at a niche audience, likely those who enjoy "so bad it's good" cult films. The actors deliver occasionally amusing performances, though not always likable. The beginning is stronger than the middle, which loses momentum and made it hard to stay engaged through to the end. Still, it has enough odd charm to entertain the right viewer.

Hanky Panky is a low-budget horror-comedy with a cult following in the making. It's a bizarre mix of nonsense, horror, and humor that somehow works. The self-aware jokes and quirky characters, especially Sam and his talking handkerchief Woody, provide a strange emotional core amidst the chaos. While the rough humor and language might offend some, fans of cult classics will appreciate the film's commitment to its oddball concept. Hanky Panky triumphs also despite its limitations (cast paid all expenses out of own pocket), demonstrating the creativity of the filmmakers. My guess is that this movie will get more and more famous over time. Great recommendation if you like something different to watch. And a well deserved 7/10.

You can definitely tell this as a low budget movie. The idea of a sentient handkerchief is an awesome idea. This movie reminds me of some of the other b horror movies I've seen like Jack Frost or the stuff. The introduction scene goes on a little too long, some of the interactions are redundant. The scenes are carried by the dialogue most of the time. Normally in movies it's show don't tell but this movie seems to be more tell and less show. The dialogue carrying the film is a huge negative because some of the dialogue is so dry and awkward. The ADR sometimes takes me out of the scenes because it sounds so different from the dialogue In the room. In conclusion, interesting concept but I think this movie suffers from the lack of budget.