As a lifelong Disney enthusiast and horror aficionado, I must say that the idea of reimagining Mickey Mouse as a slasher villain is both intriguing and terrifying. Having grown up with the cheerful, lovable Mickey, it’s quite a shift to envision him as a sinister figure stalking his victims.
At TopMob, I’m often recognized as the go-to person for all things Disney. From watching every animated Disney movie to covering both Disneyland and Walt Disney World extensively, and when it comes to writing about TV or films, I tend to focus on Disney-related stories due to my extensive knowledge of the studio. My interest in Disney goes beyond casual fandom; I’ve delved deep into its history, accumulating a collection of books on the subject, and I even have a fair understanding of Mickey Mouse.
In 2020, when Disney’s copyright for “Steamboat Willie” expired, making Mickey Mouse’s first short film public domain, I wasn’t taken aback by the swift transformation of it into a low-budget horror flick. This isn’t an unusual occurrence, as Winnie the Pooh experienced the same fate when his initial book entered the public domain. A movie titled “The Mouse Trap” has recently surfaced on Peacock. As a diehard Mickey Mouse fan, I felt compelled to check it out. I wasn’t anticipating to enjoy it, and indeed, I didn’t. However, the reason for my lack of appreciation was more intriguing than expected.
The Mouse Trap Is Terrible, But That’s Not A Surprise
As a dedicated gamer, let me set the record straight from the get-go – “The Mouse Trap” isn’t exactly a cinematic masterpiece. In fact, it’s a pretty poor one. The sets are flimsy, the dialogue is stiff as a board, and the script is a chaotic mess. The plot? Barely coherent. It feels more like a quick cash grab, but without that enjoyable, nostalgic charm usually associated with such endeavors.
The film begins by stating that Disney has no connection to this movie whatsoever, serving only as a reminder that Mickey Mouse remains a protected character. However, the original short film “Steamboat Willie” can be used by anyone. This disclaimer is delivered in a deliberately humorous manner, suggesting that the film could be a mix of horror and comedy, embracing its low-budget, campy nature for amusement. Regrettably, there’s no humor to be found in this movie.
The film unfolds at an arcade, where a group of young adults are attending an employee’s late-night celebration. Regrettably, their manager, who has a private screening area within the arcade, chooses to view his Steamboat Willie reel. This act leads to him becoming possessed by an unknown entity, with unclear motives. He then puts on an old Mickey Mouse mask, which wasn’t available in 1928, and begins murdering everyone present.
As a dedicated Disney enthusiast with a fondness for Mickey Mouse, owning a Steamboat Willie LEGO model and several pairs of Mickey ears, it might seem odd that I find this film objectionable due to its portrayal of such an icon as a horror slasher. However, I do take offense, but only because Mickey Mouse has immense potential to excel in the horror slasher genre.
It Doesn’t Do Enough With Its Homicidal Mickey Mouse
In “The Mouse Trap,” there are segments taken from “Steamboat Willie” scattered throughout the movie, appearing during the opening sequence and certain scenes within the film. At first, I thought these instances might have been added to remind viewers of details in the original short, especially for those who may not have watched it recently. If these moments were set to play a role later in the story, this approach would effectively ensure that the audience was kept up-to-date on the events unfolding.
Unfortunately, such an occurrence is rare in reality. Apart from the antagonist momentarily watching ‘Steamboot Willie’ and then attacking people while donning a Mickey Mouse mask, there isn’t much else that connects the film you’re viewing with its intended theme. Our villain, Mickey-like, might be alluding to the knife Mickey wields for potato peeling at the end of ‘Steamboat Willie’, but the movie doesn’t explicitly make this connection itself.
At some point, the movie incorporates a haunting rendition of “Turkey in the Straw,” a tune known from an earlier animated short. This chilling adaptation effectively sets the tone for a horror theme, much like how certain musical cues are used to signal the approach of characters such as Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees in other films. However, this eerie melody is only played once, early in the movie, and never resurfaces again throughout the rest of the film.
Early Mickey Mouse Is Kind Of A Dick
It could be assumed that transforming Mickey Mouse into a slasher movie monster might pose challenges, but it’s not as complex as one might initially believe, given that the early version of Mickey Mouse exhibited somewhat unlikable traits. However, over time, Mickey evolved to become an underdog hero, a character who consistently overcomes obstacles to achieve success. In his initial conception, Mickey did not embody these qualities.
Mickey Mouse was initially designed as a blend of the dashing action hero style of Douglas Fairbanks and the comical antics of Charlie Chaplin. Consequently, an impish side emerged in Mickey’s initial form, which could have been employed effectively.
It’s unclear if our antagonist is on a rampage due to personal issues or if something otherworldly is influencing him. Given that Mickey seems to possess magical abilities, it seems more likely that some supernatural force is involved. If this force can be interpreted as the “Spirit of Mickey,” then the movie could explore how this usually cheerful character is actually quite angry and vengeful, revealing a hidden side of Mickey Mouse that people aren’t familiar with.
As a gamer, I’d rephrase that as: “A big part of Steamboat Willie involves Mickey Mouse performing ‘Turkey in the Straw’, using animals that don’t seem too thrilled about it. He manipulates a cat’s tail to make it meow and extends a goose’s neck to make it squawk.
In addition, Mickey plays the teeth of a cow as if they were keys on a xylophone. It’s possible that our cunning Mickey might have grabbed some mallets from a Whack-A-Mole game and attempted to harm one of our characters using a similar tactic, but unfortunately, it didn’t occur. However, the character from “The Mouse Trap” never used a pitchfork to stab anyone in the face, as much as I hoped he would. Instead, Mickey fattened up that same cow earlier by forcing it to eat hay. Yet, despite my anticipation, Mickey from “The Mouse Trap” never impaled anyone with a pitchfork.
The Mouse Trap Is Getting A Sequel So Let’s Do It Right
It came as a surprise that The Mouse Trap turned into an indie horror sensation. I’m confident that those involved in its production realized they were creating something outlandish. However, if you’re going to produce something a bit unconventional, embrace it and let your creativity run wild.
A follow-up movie titled “The Mouse Trap: Entering the Mickeyverse” is set to hit theaters in 2025. Given the ending of the initial film, it’s likely that Mickey will be accompanied by a villainous Minnie Mouse (portrayed by one of the survivors from the first movie). Additionally, some classic Mickey Mouse cartoons are expected to become public property in 2025.
I’m hoping the follow-up film will incorporate those elements and create an intriguing connection to the classic cartoons that served as its inspiration. If there’s any merit in this concept, it goes beyond merely placing a standard horror movie slasher in a Mickey costume; rather, it involves thoughtfully utilizing the source material to make the film something distinctive and more than just another generic slasher production.
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2024-10-10 16:08