WFG RATING: B 

ITN Productions present an August Bound production. Directed by Andrea M. Catinella. Produced by Rene August. Written by Harry Boxley. Cinematography by Joseph Khalil.  

Stars Lauren Leppard, Kathi DeCouto, Keith Eyles, Joseph Emms, Natasha Tosini, Atlanta Moreno, and Jay Robertson.  

First, we endured a “mouse trap”. Then, we dealt with a “mouse of horrors”. Then, we were on a trip to a “screamboat”. Now, from the makers of Piglet comes this fourth public domain horror film based on the OG Steamboat Willie, which takes on a new element. 

Mimi Jackson is a recovering drug addict who decides the withdrawals are not worth it and before heading to a family vacation, grabs a bottle of oxycodone. Her family consists of gruff patriarch Stu, worried matriarch Connie, older brother Nigel, and younger sister Blaire. On their way to the family home on the lake, Nigel meets Phoenix at the petrol station, and she instantly takes a liking to the shy kid.  

Upon their arrival home, Mimi is shocked to find out her therapist Helen is there as well and that the vacation is an intervention. When Stu discovers Mimi has the pills, he forces them out of her hand and locks her in a room with VHS tapes out of fear she will try to escape and relapse. When Mimi finds a specific tape that has a cartoon mouse wreaking havoc, the tape soon becomes a reality when a mysterious killer looking like the mouse arrives and prepares to kill anyone in its way.  

If there is a spectrum right now to determine the best and worst of the Steamboat Willie horror films, Steven LaMorte’s Screamboat is by far the best with The Mouse Trap being the worst. Mouse of Horrors and this film are dead set in the middle as both have both strengths and flaws in their executions. However, these two bring something fresh despite the sometimes-flawed execution. And both have the same writer in Harry Boxley, who shows that he can bring something new to the world of public domain horror.  

What’s quite interesting here is that the cast of characters are pretty unsympathetic for the most part. Mimi, played by Lauren Leppard, is a recovering addict who outbursts as a result of her addictions. Her father Stu, played by Keith Eyles, is too outspoken and stubborn and as Connie, played by Kathi DeCouto, points out, like father, like daughter. As for Natasha Tosini’s Blaire, she is an 18-year-old who pleases a customer via webcam as a means to make money. Perhaps the only one anyone can sympathize with is Joseph Emms’ Nigel, who is a virginal 23-year-old who instantly sparks with Atlanta Moreno’s Phoenix.  

Unlike Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Blood and Porridge, there isn’t any snoozefest of the characters but more an understanding of who they are and why they are dysfunctional. Once the Mouse, played by Jay Robertson, arrives, things really get going. As with this subgenre of horror, there’s going to be some over-the-top violence, and it shows. There is a specific horror trope in the film that leads to the slow torture of one character. A specific death goes into Mortal Kombat territory, reminiscent of the Boxley-scripted Popeye Returns. The fact we learn the Mouse comes from a lost media or creepypasta VHS tape makes it more interesting.  

Mouseboat Massacre is similar to Mouse of Horrors in there despite the flaws, it brings a fresh element to the public domain genre. With the exception of one or maybe even two characters, there is family dysfunction with an unlikely protagonist, but the deaths are quite enjoyable to please horror fans.