Reviewed by Joseph Henson ©2012

Starring: Louanna Lee

Also starring George Stover, Leanna Chamish, Victoria Gottlieb

Special Guest Stars: Jennifer Rouse, Paul R. Sieber, Dylan Hintz, Sam Lukowski

Special appearances by Wayne Shipley, Kim Hoang, Robert Long II, Jason Patrick Presson, Alfred Guy, Steve Rifkin, Mitch Klein, Les Bradley, Kelly Kalac, Bob Creager, Tom Schneider, and Erik Kristopher Myers

Written by Mitch Klein and Wayne Shipley

Makeup and Costuming by Kate Presson

Shot and Edited by Jeff Herberger

Produced and Directed by Lee Doll

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REVIEW: Having never seen Louanna Lee’s previous adventures, and not being a fan of safe, kid-friendly fare (a genre of which I actually question this show belongs to; more on that later), I feel I am not the right person to review this show, but I shall try.

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Louanna Lee (as herself) and her friends/family, consisting of pal Victoria (Victoria Lynn), her mother (Leanna Chamish), and boyfriend Sam (Sam Lukowski), are all in attendance at Louanna’s grandfather’s party, held at the Wittingham Manor on a dark and stormy night. The previous sentence and the fact that this is a detective show will no doubt point you in the right plot direction; yes, the lights go out and the bodies begin dropping like flies, and it’s up to our diminutive sleuth to solve the case before she and her acquaintances become the killer’s next targets.

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First, let me voice an opinion that while this show plays it safe for the most part and would no doubt be acceptable for kids, there is a brief bit of coarse language and some rather disturbing imagery (the death of one character in particular was rather brutal for such light-hearted fare) children might find upsetting (then again, most kids these days are allowed to see much worse, so what do I know?). The production really reminded me of an old `90s Nickelodeon show (reminiscent in tone to Clarissa Explains It All or The Adventures Of Pete & Pete). Having said that, I found myself unable to fully enjoy the show for what it was because it’s obviously intended for a specific age range (I am about 25/30 years too old).

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However, don’t let that detract you from the show. It’s actually well-made for such a small-budgeted affair, and it’s infused with some quirky, likable humor that drives the show along. I especially liked the verbose “male” man (that had actually made me laugh out loud) and Colin Wittingham, played by Robert Long, was funny in his small role (I kept thinking he looked like a cross between Rod Stewart and Colin Clive, and in a credit outtake, Robert proved me half right). As a fan of murder mysteries and slasher films, I also enjoyed the hoary old “spooky mansion” cliche and the inclusion of a cloaked figure for good measure. And, while I guessed the identity of the murderer, I still had fun trying to piece it together.

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But like I said, it’s a show that’s obviously aimed at a specific age range and those within that group will no doubt get a kick out of Louanna Lee’s adventures. I, on the other hand, appreciated the technicalities and the attention to detail moreso than the zany, kid-friendly humor, but I must reiterate that those sentiments are not a detraction, but just a warning: this show, while well-made and certainly inoffensive, is strictly for kids. I’m curious if it will sit well with a more adult-oriented crowd (you never know). If you like this sort of show that appeals to a simpler time, I recommend it. If not, well, show it to your kids; I think they’ll want to see the next episode.

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Want to buy it? You can get it HERE.

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 (About the author) Joseph Henson is a professional horror movie reviewer, and runs the very popular site THE BODYCOUNT CONTINUES (a website and forum that is a MUST for any slasher fan).  He is also one of the main podcast co-hosts on THE HYSTERIA CONTINUES, which often offers insightful, hilarious looks into both modern and vintage slasher movies. He currently resides in Tennessee.