FORBIDDEN ZONE - Danny Elfman - "Everything Is Different But Nothing Has Changed" (1982)

I guess we've gone too far to turn back now! You are now entering "The Forbidden Zone," a place somewhere between genius and madness known as Dimension Six!

The Director of "The Forbidden Zone" is Percussionist Richard Elfman, who was the founding member of the band "The Mystic Nights Of The Oingo Boingo," and is the brother of wiz kid wacko composer Danny Elfman, who gets the musical credits for the movie! Danny of course went on to score some of the best mainstream films ever made like "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure," and "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and don't forget that Danny also wrote the timeless theme to "The Simpsons!"

Looks like from all outside appearances to be a pretty normal place, just your every day family sitting around the kitchen table discussing the day's affairs! It's the Hercules family, and from the right first off is Phil Gordon as Flash Hercules, to his right is Hyman Diamond as Gramps Hercules, then at the head of the table is Ugh-Fudge Bwana as Pa Hercules, then Virginia Rose as Ma Hercules, and finally on the far left is Marie-Pascale Elfman as Susan B. "Frenchy" Hercules! Marie-Pascale also designed the sets!

Time for Frenchy to strut her stuff! She was Richard Elfman's wife at the time, and helped produce the movie!

So, Guess What? There are no rules in the "Forbidden Zone!" Political correctness is tossed out with the dish water, and as it should be in any artistic presentation, nothing is safe! Sometimes during the course of a movie, you don't have time to explain everything, so "Forbidden Zone" was not originally released to a very enthusiastic public, but now grows in popularity every day!

The kids all have to go off to school!!

But when they stop to look and see what smells so bad in the garbage can, they find Toshiro Boloney as one of the Henderson twins inside!

With characters like this, if "The Forbidden Zone" was a straight out horror film, it would be disturbing and extremely creepy!

Hervé Villechaize and Susan Tyrrell are King Fausto and Queen Doris of the 6th Dimension, which is quite a bit further out than the 5th Dimension!

Meanwhile, back at school, the teacher Miss Feldman, as played by Kedric Wolfe has everything under control! In 1965 Kedric was Jocko in Ray Dennis Steckler's film, "Lemon Grove Kids Meet The Monsters!"

Must be graduation week, the kids don't seem to be paying much attention!

Frenchy joins in on the chorus of "The Alphabet Song!"

"The Forbidden Zone" is something akin to a musical live action version of some lost demented Fleischer cartoon! The songs and music are all brilliant, it's just the bonding holding the whole thing together gets a little weak and trying at times, but some of the imagery will embed in your cranium forever, and then some!

Susan Tyrell puts in an insane performance as the Cruella Deville meets The Queen of Hearts in a post Armageddon Las Vegas character! 10 years earlier in only her 4th film, Susan was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in John Huston's "Fat City!" She has been in numerous 'cult' films like Andy Warhol's "Bad," and John Waters' "Cry-Baby," and will also be in the upcoming feature "Forbidden Zone 2: The Forbidden Galaxy!"

Be forewarned, just because it looks like a cartoon, "The Forbidden Zone" is not really a movie for kids, unless they're nursing! Gisele Lindley as The Princess has a lot of on screen time, and never has anything more on than a pair or panties, high heels and gloves! Gisele was only ever in one other film, Blake Edwards' "S.O.B." and has seemingly vanished from the face of the earth!

Now is this a tender moment or what? How sweet!

This shot makes me think of "The Unknown Comic" who used to regularly appear on the Chuck Barris produced "Gong Show" in the 70's! Did you know that The Mystic Knights Of The Oingo Boingo performed on the "Gong Show" in 1976? If not, then do yourself a favor and check This out!! It explains a lot! Where have all the good times gone?

Frenchy and The Queen have a slight disagreement!

You know what they say about things happening in threes, well, here's two fine examples!!

I have no freakin' clue, but is this a great shot or what?

In the late 70's The Mystic Knights Of The Oingo Boingo divided, and Richard Elfman left the band as they morphed from a cabaret act into a full blown rock band! "Forbidden World" is his attempt at capturing the spirit of the original act!

Besides the Elfmans, the rest of the members of Oingo Boingo in no particular order are Leon Schneiderman on sax, lead guitarist Steve Bartek, drummer John "Vatos" Hernandez, Kerry Hatch on the bass, Sam "Sluggo" Phipps on sax and flute, Dale Turner on trumpet, and keyboard player Richard Gibbs. They also all play various other instruments and percussion!

"Forbidden Zone" has been re-mastered and re-released in glorious colour as it was originally envisioned by it's creator, and you can get a taste and a link to a place to buy it right over HERE!! It looks better than ever! If nothing else at least go out and get yourself a CD of the soundtrack, you'll love it, you have my word!