In the world of low-budget horror films, "Screamboat" is the latest addition that transforms cherished intellectual property into something dark and twisted as soon as their 95-year copyright protection expires. It uses brutality as a tool for comedy, ranging from bizarre murderous scenes involving a forklift to the transgendering of iconic characters. Such films bank on the thrill of desecrating influential brands, in this case, Disney.

"Screamboat" is not the first horror film to make a jest on "Steamboat Willie," the 1928 Disney animated short, but it stands out in comparison to other similar films like "The Mouse Trap." Directed by Steven LaMorte, "Screamboat" tries to honour the spirit of "Steamboat Willie" while playfully mocking its parent company.

LaMorte's style is notably comedic, employing gory gags and grotesque humor, diverging from Scott Chambers' less imaginative takes on Disney characters in "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey." In "Screamboat," Willie is represented as a scruffy rodent, his character manipulated to appear like a tiny, terrorizing entity causing chaos among humans.

The film provides just enough backstory to explain how Willie ends up in the underbelly of the Staten Island Ferry, and is set free to go on a murderous spree throughout the movie.

LaMorte cleverly sidesteps copyright infringement by presenting his reinterpretation as parody. The film introduces a host of other characters, each with unique identities, and sets the stage for a suspenseful massacre. A romantic subplot between the characters of Selena and Pete adds an extra dimension to the film.

The grisly murders evoke more laughter than fear, and the film itself has playful references to several Disney classics. However, "Screamboat" struggles when it attempts to be serious, testing the limited acting abilities of its cast.

Despite its gruesome narrative, "Screamboat" is less of a disservice to the original intellectual property compared to other Disney-sanctioned live-action adaptations, adding an intriguing blend of parody and horror to the timeless "Steamboat Willie."