DVD Release
Now, I’m going to be truthful with you here, Shock-O-Rama Cinema, an imprint of E.i. Independent now called POPcinema, has never been one of my favorite companies. It’s nothing against them; I’ve just never really been a big fan of erotic horror spoof cinema. The majority of this company’s fans, that I’ve met, have been bi-sexual fat girls. As much as I love bi-sexual fat girls, I never figured Shock-O-Rama to be the kind of company I’d really get into. They did, however, catch my attention a year or so ago with their amazing Retro-Seduction line, especially their Joe Sarno films.
When I was given the chance to check out their upcoming Brett Piper film, Shock-O-Rama, I was torn. Would this end up being just another softcore horror or would I end up eating my words and proclaiming myself a Shock-O-Rama Cinema fan?
When the company Rebecca Raven (Misty Mundae), a T&A B-movie diva, works for decides to can Rebecca’s can, there’s nothing left to do but head to the country for two weeks of rest and relaxation. The house may be a bit spooky but she’s scored a great deal from the real estate company. Rebecca Raven is dead, long live Ethel Kaminsky!
Meanwhile, Frank (Michael Thomas) and Gaylord (David Fine), the heads of the company that fired Rebecca are on a quest to find a replacement. Their search leads them to two films; Mecharachnia, a film about a deadbeat junkyard owner (Rob Monkiewicz) that wages war on some mischievous visitors from another world and Lonely are The Brain about a group of women being subjected to strange and erotic nightmares in order to feed an alien brain some human emotions.
Rebecca, on the other hand, isn’t faring as well in real life after unwittingly completing the last step in a satanic blood ritual meant to awaken a flesh-eating zombie buried beneath her home.
Will Rebecca escape the clutches of the ravenous zombie? Will Frank find a replacement for Rebecca Raven? Will Gaylord make the decision to come out of the closet?
Well, I’ll be pimped by a Brazilian man-midget! Brett Piper has crafted an absolute winner! From start to finish Shock-O-Rama delivers spills, chills, giggling and jiggling! If you’re a B-movie fan this will be THE B-movie to get in 2006, there’s no doubt in my mind.
Where to start? The acting? Misty Mundae (Erin Brown) is fantastic as always. She’s got this twitchy, sarcastic acting style that really sets her apart from other erotic horror eye-candy. There are times when she could be considered “over-acting” but overall she has a strong, yet extremely feminine, presence on the screen. Whether clothed or showing off her world-class lower half, Mundae is sure to continue growing. Fans of Mundae should check out Lucky McKee’s Masters of Horror episode “Sick Girl” featuring Misty co-starring as Angela Bettis’ love interest. She also has a small part in Chris Siverton’s fantastic adaptation of Jack Ketchum’s The Lost.
It would be a damn dirty shame if I didn’t mention the special effects in this film because they were phenomenal for an obviously low-budget B-movie. Everything from the aliens and their junkyard construct in Mecharachnia to the brain creature of Lonely are The Brain, Shock-O-Rama is just packed with sweet FX and B-goodness.
I’m not sure whether I’m reading too much into the film but I spotted an assload of influences here that only horror fans could appreciate; everything from Evil Dead to Twilight Zone: The Movie. Whether I’m correct or not, Piper is obviously a fan and it shows.
By the way, I wonder how many others out there will spot the spastic similarities between Frank and Lloyd Kaufman? Once again, not sure if it was done purposely but I couldn’t help laughing.
I’m sure some of you about now are asking yourselves if I have anything remotely negative to say about this film at all. I do but they’re so very insignificant. For starters, I wasn’t all that impressed with the transfer, the finished product was in desperate need of some color correction as whites and yellows tended to blur together and there was an occasional sound issue here and there. Ultimately, the entertainment value of this film far outweighs any petty issues I might have.
Shock-O-Rama is a blast to watch and I’d highly recommend this film to horror fans looking for a solid B-movie.
I am now officially a fan. Not only do I look forward to more from Brett Piper and Shock-O-Rama Cinema but I’m hoping this review will help me score a fat bi-sexual chick or two! Not really but I am looking forward to more from Piper!
