I told some friends that there was a comedy-horror-musical mash-up at the Sydney Film Festival and was politely relegated to seeing this one on my own. 'Stage Fright' is an acquired taste, a film one could relish for one or more of three reasons and otherwise better avoided at the peril of a confusing, disjointed genre mash-up which can best be described as a combination of Phantom of the Opera, Scary Movie and Glee.

Camilla Swanson (Allie MacDonald) and her brother are young kitchen-hands at a musical theatre camp where every year hordes of pretentious children come together to stage a musical. Their boss/guardian Roger McCall (Meatloaf) took them in ten years earlier after their mother (Minnie Driver) was stabbed to death by a mysterious masked phantom on the opening night of 'Haunting of the Opera.' The kids decide to stage a revival of the musical when a mysterious rock 'n roll specter begins to haunt the camp and pick off nasty students while the survivors, including star Camilla, prep for opening night.

It's what it sounds, and there's three reasons to go see it, or not.

A. Genre Mash-up

For those who like original experimental productions this may be just the thing for you with a relatively unique combination of genres prevalent throughout the film. In something reminiscent of Dr Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog (or for any who had the good fortune to see the staged version of Re-animator: The Musical) 'Stage Fright' blends gory themes and action with hoppy music to alleviate the tension of macabre acts of butchery like seeing someone repeatedly stabbed in the face. It makes strong violence, something that would otherwise seem excessive and gratuitous, an act of comic terror and delight. It helps when the guy committing these heinous acts does so to progressive 80′s rock on a six-string topped with a steak knife between the frets ready to go.

It is graphic and there are genuinely frightening moments but 'Stage Fright' is more akin to the second half of Cabin in the Woods where everyone has kind of cottoned on to the joke and you can sit back and enjoy yourself.

B. Pretentious wannabe Idina Menzels

If you've ever worked on a staged production, or a musical, or even a short film, you have likely encountered them. You know who I'm talking about, whether its actors, creative, crew, whomever, there are many who believe that they are not so much better and more eclectically talented than their peers but that the very production is graced to have them and their radiant genius shine on the tattered mess that was this play before they arrived.

'Stage Fright' really plays this up; the Director of the show envisions in no uncertain terms that a postmodern version of 'Haunting of the Opera' set in feudal Japan will really bring out the truth of the characters. Camp ringleader (who while having a character name is perhaps best referred to as Veruca Salt) undermines Camilla at every turn including attempting a fateful Carrie-esque red paint incident to ensure she gets the lead role in the production.

The Stage Manager takes his job way to seriously and if like me you've been involved in production crews or revues or theatre of any kind you're going to appreciate the none too subtle competition between the characters and all-enveloping personalities of the most obnoxious children. There is a scene where they debate whether it is right to cancel the play following the death of a key crew member; for those who have experienced the drama before an opening night this barely registers as parody.

C. Meatloaf is in a film. Seriously.

I am a Meatloaf fan, and I am not alone. I saw him when he came to Sydney in 2011, my friends wanted to cancel their tickets along with many others after they heard him sing at the AFL Grand Final, but I convinced them to come along with me. And we had fun, there's nothing like 10,000 people screaming out Bat out of Hell being lead on by the man himself.

For those of you who are Meatloaf fans and stuck it out with the aging artist you will thoroughly enjoy seeing him in a feature role. Even if his voice has diminished and his singing scenes are few, it is a pleasure to watch the man perform.

I would recommend you see 'Stage Fright' if you can tick at least two of the three boxes, otherwise you will be very frustrated and in a perpetual state of confusion, much like the characters in this film. This movie doesn't go by the traditional ABCs of film-making, it makes its own, and if you're like me and tick all three boxes then go and have some toe-tapping fun.

Teen Camilla Swanson (a fine and appealing portrayal by Allie MacDonald) aspires to be a Broadway diva just like her late mother Kylie (a brief, but memorable turn by Minnie Driver). Camilla lands the lead role in a musical theater camp revival of the play "The Haunting of the Opera" that her mom previously starred in ten years ago. However, a vicious killer decides to bump off assorted folks involved in the production of said play.

Writer/director Jerome Sable keeps the enjoyably loopy story moving along at a zippy pace, maintains an engaging tongue-in-cheek campy tone throughout, pays affectionate homage to various horror classics, and stages both the gory murders and dynamic song-and-dance numbers with rip-roaring aplomb. Moreover, Sable manages to mix both horror and humor in a fresh and spirited way. The enthusiastic acting by the game cast rates as another substantial asset: Meat Loaf as crusty camp owner Roger McCall, Douglas Smith as Camilla's bitter brother Buddy, Brandon Uranowitz as eager play director Artie Getz, Kent Nolan as the smitten Joel Hopton, and Melanie Leishman as snippy rival Liz Silver. The songs are quite catchy and lively. Bruce Chun's sumptuous widescreen cinematography provides a pleasing polished look. The jaunty score by Sable and Eli Batalion hits the stirring spot. A real off-the-way treat.

The film begins with Kylie Swanson (Minnie Driver) rehearsing, as she is a very talented and popular Broadway star. However, I was shocked when only minutes into the film, Kylie is sent to the great beyond as a masked killer hacks her to pieces. What a prologue!

Ten years have passed. The dead woman's children now work with their godfather, Roger (played by Meatloaf…and Mr. Loaf did a nice job in this film). Roger is no longer a successful Broadway producer but just a guy who owns a summer camp for campy kids—kids who sing, dance and have ambitions of being musical stars themselves one day. I absolutely loved the scene where you first see the camp, as the song is one of the funniest things I've heard in years—and this scene so reminded me of the kids I used to teach when I was worked at a school for the arts! They had all the wonderful stereotypes in the film and really knew what it was like to be around these sorts of kids…and I laughed and laughed.

Soon you learn that the school will be putting on a big show—and the director promises that a big Broadway producer will come to see it! What will this musical be? Yep….Haunting of the Opera—the same production that Kylie was performing when she was murdered!! And who will be in the lead? Yup…Kylie's daughter, Camilla (Allie MacDonald)!! Will history repeat itself? Will a deranged psychopath show up and hack the actors to pieces? What do you think?!!! Sure he will!!

The film is filled with gallons and gallons of blood. But, because so much is used, it comes off much more as comedy than a horror film. In fact, I found myself WANTING to see the masked killer butcher the teens— after all, they ARE awfully annoying at times!

My only reservations about this film are relatively minor. The biggest problem is that I would love to see teens go to see this film or rent it —and I am worried that because of all the cursing and blood that many parents won't let their kids see it. It's a shame, as the same folks who regularly watch "Glee" would be thrilled to watch it—and much of their audience are teens. The other problem is that the films tempo is very uneven. While parts are totally hilarious, these are, at times, far between. But, if you are patient you WILL be rewarded with a very enjoyable and silly movie. In fact, one of the very funniest parts will be missed by stupid people—you know, the folks who leave the theater the second the credits begin to roll. Watch and listen…as the closing song is the funniest heavy metal tune of all-time…or at least funnier than Dee Snider in spandex.

All in all, I am very glad I saw the film—especially because, as a teacher, I was forced to watch too many plays starring students who (on rare occasions) I WISH had met similar fates as the teens in this film!!

Note: Please don't tell my wife about the last part. Thanks…I owe you one.