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Forbidden Zone

Forbidden Zone
Forbidden Zone.jpg
Theatrical reissue poster
Directed by Richard Elfman
Produced by Richard Elfman
Screenplay by
Story by Richard Elfman
Starring
Music by Danny Elfman
Cinematography Gregory Sandor
Edited by Martin Nicholson
Distributed by The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release date
  • March 21, 1980 (1980-03-21)
Running time
74 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Forbidden Zone is a 1980musical fantasy comedy film directed and produced by Richard Elfman. Co-written by Elfman and fellow Mystic Knights member Matthew Bright, the film is based upon the stage performances of the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. Originally shot on black-and-white film, the story involves an alternate universe accessed through a door in the house of the Hercules family.

The composing debut of Richard Elfman's brother Danny, the film stars Hervé Villechaize, Susan Tyrrell, and members of the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, and features appearances by Warhol Superstar Viva, Joe Spinell, and The Kipper Kids. Villechaize kicked his cheque back into the production and even painted sets on weekends. The only actual paid actor was Phil Gordon, who played Flash; all the other SAG actors kicked their cheques back into the show.

The film was made as an attempt to capture the essence of The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo's live performances on film, and also as a means for both director Elfman to retire from music to work on film projects, and to serve as a transition between Oingo Boingo's former cabaret style and a new wave-based style. Amid negative reactions to content in the film that had been perceived as being offensive, the film was screened as a midnight movie, received positive notice, and developed a cult following. In 2004, the film was digitally restored and released on DVD, and in 2008, the film was colorized.


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