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6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Bon Bon Parade remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you grew up watching The Vanishing Legion or just have a weird soft spot for grainy, old-school curiosities, you might find a strange kind of charm here. But if you hate feeling like you're trapped in a toddler’s sugar-fueled nightmare, you will absolutely despise every second of The Bon Bon Parade. 🍭
It’s not exactly a plot-heavy masterpiece. It's mostly just a kid being super hungry and then suddenly ending up in a place where the scenery is made of dessert. It makes about as much sense as a fever dream.
The candy characters doing their little dance numbers? Honestly, it’s a bit unsettling. They have this fixed, dead-eyed stare that really sticks with you. It reminded me of those weird, static moments in Alice Rattled by Rats where things just feel... off.
I swear the background extras in the candy parade were just trying to hold their costumes together. One of the peppermint sticks almost trips over his own feet, and you can see him look down in pure panic. Classic.
The whole thing feels like it was filmed in a basement that someone covered in glitter and construction paper. It’s not trying to be high art, and thank goodness for that. It’s just trying to be loud and sugary.
There’s a specific bit where the kid is just shoveling pretend sweets into his mouth while the camera holds on him way too long. It’s almost too observant of how much kids like sugar. It made me feel a bit sick, honestly.
It’s not quite as weird as The Unveiling Hand, but it’s definitely not normal. If you need something to put on while you're folding laundry or staring at the wall, this is the one. Just don't go looking for deep meaning. There isn't any.
It’s just a parade. A sticky, strange, and completely bizarre parade. 🍬