The Once and Future Smash is a 2022 mockumentary film directed by Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein. The film tells the story of Mikey Smash (Michael St. Michaels) and William Mouth (Bill Weeden), who both played the same football cannibal slasher character, Smash-Mouth, in the 1970 film, End Zone 2.
The film had a world premiere at FrightFest on August 29, 2022. The North American and United States premiere was held at Screamfest on October 19, 2022.
Plot
Longtime rivals, Mikey Smash and William Mouth, each played Smash-Mouth in the 1970 film, End Zone 2. Mikey is credited. William is not. They both attend the Mad Monster Party horror convention when they are promised that it would be their audition to reprise their role as the character in the modern End Zone reboot, which resumes the series one hour into End Zone 2, ignoring the end of the film and the sequels. They are accompanied by their assistant, AJ, son of Randall Browning, who played Smash-Mouth's sidekick AJ in the original 1970 film.
Description
Emilie Black of Cinema Crazed says that, "The Once and Future Smash follows both actors who have been credited as Smash Mouth in End Zone 2 as they go to a convention where fans are awaiting them while mixing in interviews with some of horror industry’s greats. The film mixes these two elements beautifully well, giving the viewer a chance to see how End Zone 2 has impacted those who have seen it and how it became a cult favorite." Moving Pictures Film Club states that the film "crosses into This Is Spinal Tap territory with its farcical and at times surreal portrayal of the lives of the fading stars of retro-grindhouse-slasher movies who were not able to reach the classic cult status of franchises like A Nightmare on Elm Street or Halloween. Mikey (Michael St. Michaels) and William (Bill Weeden) are haplessly hilarious as the two actors behind the cannibal football player Smash Mouth and represent perfectly the rivalry – whether real or imagined – between the different actors behind Hollywood horror icons. There’s also a satirical depiction of the behaviour of production companies that aim to revive horror franchises and completely miss the mark on how to do so with heart. "
The film also references many horror franchises and cult films, sometimes using talking-head interviews with actors involved with those films, a layering that podcast Horror Hangout described as "Wes Craven and beyond levels of meta-narrative."