Hanky Panky: A Horror of the Absurd Kind

Hanky Panky is not your normal horror film, nor is it an average comedy. It is a film of the absurdist kind and that is the very thing that makes it worth a watch.

Written by Nick Roth who co-directed with Lindsey Haun, the film tells the story of a man named Sam who arrives at a cabin deep in the mountains of northern Utah where he discovers he was unintentionally invited and that there is something sinister going on at this seemingly quaint cabin.

Sam appears to be a little off, mainly because his pocket square talks to him and he even calls it Woody. I really thought at first that Sam is off his rocker. That his need to clean up messes is because of extreme OCD and germaphobia. However, Woody ends up playing a very pivotal role in the story.

Woody is the one to discover that a nefarious plot is underway and attempts to warn Sam, only to be locked in the bathroom. Once members of the group start being murdered, Sam realizes his friend is right and needs Woody’s help to stop the evil plot brewing around him.

One of my favorite things about Hanky Panky is how the film isn’t over the top funny. The comedy is found in how each character deals with the harrowing situation and who the murderer turns out to be.

In one scene, two of the characters find themselves inside a fishing hut made out of cardboard on the outside, but inside it’s a whole other cabin. I thought of it as a play on the “It’s bigger on the inside.” thing from “Dr. Who” whose to say that it isn’t some sort of “T.A.R.D.I.S?” It’s really a brilliant idea and fits well into the absurdness of the film.

In another scene, Sam’s ex girlfriend discovers she can hear Woody, but thinks it’s all of the medication she is on in her attempt to quit smoking.

I say that the film is absurd, but that’s its appeal. Other films have met great success having that sort of humor infused in them. “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” anyone? I mention that film because Hanky Panky made me think of it. This fact only adds to why I like it.

There is one thing I found a little distracting, and it’s probably the filmmaker in me; but I wish the fight scene between Woody and the antagonist didn’t have visible fishing wire. Granted, the film does include puppets and that is one thing which makes it stand out-a horror comedy with puppets. It is also an independent film and budget constraints would have kept the filmmakers from accessing high end visual effects.

Overall, I think Hanky Panky is a brilliant film both in its delivery and balance between horror and comedy. The film is available on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon and Vudu. If you’re into off beat comedies, especially horror-comedies, then Hanky Panky is the film for you.