Cecil B. DeMented 2000

In a startling illustration of duality, Hollywood’s darling, Honey Whitlock, presents herself as a benevolent icon, all the while hiding a toxic, unreasonable, and demanding nature beneath the surface. Her carefully crafted image crumbles when she unexpectedly falls into the hands of Cecil B. Demented, a psychotic film director, along with his quirky group of “kamikaze filmmakers,” known as SprocketHoles. This entourage infiltrates the theater during the launch of Honey’s latest film and seizes her right after she finishes her remarks on stage. What follows is a chaotic escape.

Soon, Honey finds herself in a derelict film palace, completely bound, gagged, and blindfolded. Here, she meets Cecil’s entourage, a strange assortment of enthusiasts, each adorned with tattoos of legendary filmmakers, who introduce themselves one after another, showcasing their unique eccentricities. Cecil reveals his intention to include Honey in his magnum opus, insisting she must leverage her star power as the leading actress. Initially uncooperative, Honey gives a tepid performance until, pushed for more, she channels an exaggerated emotional intensity that deeply satisfies her captor.

Aside from the unforgettable opening scene, the trio of Cecil, Honey, and the SprocketHoles set out on an audacious filmmaking spree across the city, capturing footage in unapproved locations, often involving taken-aback onlookers. Their first target is a local theater screening Patch Adams: The Director’s Cut, where they invade with firearms and smoke bombs, stealing their unique footage. Bystanders later comment that Honey appears much younger and trendier than her recent Hollywood roles, while representatives from the Baltimore Film Commission publicly denounce their actions as “cinema terrorism.” Spurred by this chaos, Cecil decides to disrupt the commission’s luncheon, prompting Honey to leap off a nearby rooftop without any safety equipment. As she makes her descent, a gunfight erupts between Cecil’s crew and the police, leading to tragedy with Rodney, the hairdresser, deceased, and Cecil himself injured. Seizing the moment, Honey tries to surrender to law enforcement, only to have the SprocketHoles whisk her away almost immediately, ensuring their bizarre cinematic journey continues.

As Honey’s circumstances shift to a more adaptable state, an intriguing transformation begins to occur—she seems to be developing a fondness for her captors. This realization surfaces after she watches a television special showcasing interviews from those who know her well, including her ex-husband. These candid reflections unveil a more complex aspect of Honey’s persona, characterized by pettiness and malevolence in her daily encounters. With this newfound self-awareness, she starts to reconsider the very notion of escape, recognizing that returning to Hollywood would simply expose her to the disdain that stems from her condescending behavior. Ultimately, Honey gives in to the charismatic allure of Cecil’s leadership, vowing “Demented forever” and branding her arm as a mark of allegiance to the SprocketHoles’ mission.

At Honey’s urging, the SprocketHoles initiate an attack on the set of the Forrest Gump sequel filming in Baltimore. Upon their arrival, they overpower numerous production crew members, igniting tensions that escalate into a shootout between Cecil’s followers and the abandoned Teamsters. The violent clash takes a toll, claiming lives within the SprocketHoles and leaving others severely injured. In their fractured state, the survivors retreat to a nearby adult film theater, where the audience plays a critical role in enabling Cecil’s getaway from the authorities.

As the filming nears its conclusion at a local drive-in, law enforcement is alerted to the disorder. Cecil and his group invade the projection room, riling up the audience into a boisterous frenzy. Honey is then prompted to set her hair ablaze, fulfilling a request for the film’s dramatic finale. Once filming wraps, the SprocketHoles shift their focus towards more risqué pursuits in plain view, ultimately invoking a police intervention. In a final act of rebellion, Cecil emerges in flames as the police arrive, sacrificing himself in the hope of ensuring Honey’s escape. Amid the chaos, while some crew members flee with the raw footage, others fall victim to unexpected gunfire. Eventually apprehended, Honey is taken away in a police van, surprised and elated by the warm reception she receives from the crowd, who seem to have developed an affection for her amidst the turmoil.