Stoner horror was everywhere in the 1990s. It was a sign of the times, and there’s something uniquely endearing about a classic piece of late ‘90s teen horror. Not to sound too old, but it was a simpler time, at least cosmetically, and there’s comfort in the familiarity. One of the strongest releases was Rodman Flender’s Idle Hands, a goofy possession tale starring burgeoning teen heartthrob (and now Chucky hunk), Devin Sawa. Recently, it was announced that Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk would be co-writing a remake of the beloved cult classic. There’s no word yet on a director, though if you’re curious what the original is all about, I’ve got fantastic news—Idle Hands is streaming free on Prime Video.
Per Prime Video: Anton is a teenager couch potato who can’t control the impulses of his right hand, which has been possessed by a demon. Now, with his appendage on a killing spree, he risks ruining his chances with a girl at school.
Writers Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk previously wrote and directed the summer camp slasher Hell of a Summer, currently planned for a 2025 release via Neon. In our 3-star review of the pair’s filmmaking debut, we wrote, “Wolfhard and Bryk aren’t saying anything new with Hell of a Summer, especially with similarly themed movies like The Final Girls and You Might Be the Killer already in the canon. But the Friday the 13th movies weren’t saying much either and I ate them up as a final girl-obsessed teen. I imagine the next generation of horror fans may do the same with this.”
The pair is clearly endeared toward the horror genre, and while I haven’t yet had a chance to catch Hell of a Summer, what I’m hearing suggests they’re a natural fit for Idle Hands’ goofy tonal tightrope. It’s exciting, too, to see two relatively new writers tackling the project. Wolfhard was certainly established beforehand, but he’s still an exciting new voice to be helming the cult remake. Getting major Jay Baruchel helming Random Acts of Violence vibes from this one.
Plus, with pierced ears, baggy jeans, and frosted tips, Idle Hands has it all. It is also responsible for one of those ridiculous fears that had no basis in reality. Growing up, I was convinced giant industrial fans were going to be a much bigger problem in life, and I was terrified of them. Not that Idle Hands is scary otherwise. It isn’t. The film’s goal is to make the audience laugh, and the cavalcade of familiar faces from the last decade works wonders to make sure that’s the case. It’s an adorable teen romp and something I earnestly encourage you to check out if you haven’t seen it. With it streaming free, there’s rarely been a better time.
What do you think? Are you a fan of Idle Hands? What other 1990s teen horror movies hold a place in your heart? Let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
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