'80s Trash: Cameron's Closet

Is it still topical to make an R. Kelly joke?  Probably not, but I'm doing it anyways.  This is Cameron's Closet, a 1988 Horror Film that is fairly-obscure.  Was anyone really demanding this?  Was anyone banging down my door asking me to 'finally cover this gem?'  I didn't think so.  I'm getting at least 4 Segments out of this, so it's still a winner in my book.  This comes to us from the Director of The Ring- the Danielle Steel Book Adaptation, that is- and He Knows You're Alone.  Did you want a Film marketed as a Horror Version of E.T.?  Did you want a Film that is The Exorcist meets Carrie meets Mac & Me?  The Plot involves Cameron training his Telekinetic Powers, only to draw a demon into his life.  Can he stop the creature before everyone he loves dies?  To find out, read on...

This is Cameron.  He's raised by his Dad (Tab Hunter!).  His Dad is training him to use his powers.

However, he's warned of a dark force trying to control Cameron.  He takes action, but it doesn't end well.

He ends up with his Mother, but the problems only continue.

Speaking of problems, what kind of vision ones does she have to think that THIS is a good outfit?!?

While that's going on, a Cop bothered by strange dreams goes to see a Shrink.

Both are assigned to a case together when Cameron's Stepdad is launched out a window and has his eyes burned out by a Demon from, well, guess where!

Cameron tries to deal with the Demon, but he's not strong enough.  This is apparently supposed to be deadly...I guess.

To make a long story short, the Demon was drawn in by Cameron's power and the only way to stop it is to deal with it directly!  It's too bad that like 5 other people already died!

The Cop tries to fend it off, but he's no match.  It's only a Cameron Ex Machina that can save the day!

In the aftermath, everyone is happy.  They'll mourn the recent deaths of nearly-everyone close to them happily too, I guess.  The End.

A thinly-disguised version of something you've seen many times before.  A Demon killing people?  A child in danger?  Oh wait- they aren't usually in the same Film, so this is different!  It basically cherry-picked the best parts of other Films/Stories and made Film Gumbo.  Say- is it too late to re-brand this Site as Film Gumbo?  That can't *possibly* be taken, can it?!?  Where was I?  Oh yeah, this Movie.  There's nothing that original here- it is just mixed in with other stuff (that is also not original).  I mean, the kid is some form of Carrie/Girl from Firestarter.  The Demon is just, well, Pazuzu.  The Demon confronting you in the form of dead people is obviously from lots of other stuff.  Cameron's Closet is far from a truly-terrible Film.  At best, it's an alright mish-mash of ideas that you liked better in better Films.  At worst, it is silly.  It introduces lots of elements at random and hopes that it all makes sense.  I'll just put up this picture of a Dream Werewolf leaping through the air in a Dream Cave at a Cop inside Cameron's Mind to dispel that notion.

Next time, another '80s Film that represents the final Films of Tab Hunter.  I didn't plan this theme, but why not go for it?!?  Stay tuned...