Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is a 1988 American fantasy comedy film directed by James Signorelli, starring Cassandra Peterson as eccentric horror host Elvira. The film's screenplay, written by Peterson, John Paragon, and Sam Egan,[3] follows Elvira inheriting a house nestled in the heart of an overtly prudish community.
Production of the film began following Peterson's success playing Elvira on the television program Elvira's Movie Macabre (1981-1986). She enlisted the aid of numerous writers and actors who she had previously worked with in the comedy troupe The Groundlings. Filming took place from January to March 1988.
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark was released on September 30, 1988. It received mixed reviews, with critics variously praising or deriding its writing and humor. Peterson was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Actress as well as a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress. The film was a box office bomb upon release, grossing $5.5 million against a budget of $7.5 million. It has since attained a cult following, and remastered versions have been released on home media. A second film, Elvira's Haunted Hills, was released in 2001, with Peterson reprising her role.