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Why did I even
long for a Grind House revival, when it was happening right under my
nose? You may be surprised to hear this, but I can be a bit slow witted
at times. Right now, there are about a hundred young directors creating
movies, all of whom are just clamoring to re-invent the Grind House and
exploitation genre, and they just don’t get enough of the credit that
they deserve for accomplishing what Hollywood has tried so desperately
to do. The proof in the pudding is this utterly fantastic production
short from Cinephreak Pictures that aces every feeling and novelty you
get from a Grind House film, with a touch of Blaxploitation for good
measure. Bilinski adds a production quality to the film that’s just all
out exhilarating to watch, from the groovy opening theme, to the montage
set to a neon backdrop, it was almost as if American International had
distributed it themselves.
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The plot to
“Foxxy Madonna” is a bit of a more supernatural vibe, as
Foxxy is a gun slinging, trench coat sporting fighter for
good, battling all sorts of demonic baddies. When a mob boss
named Black Death plans to release a toxin to poison the
world for a bigger scheme, Foxxy Madonna is on the case. One
of the true highlights beyond the genuine atmosphere is the
great direction by Bilinski who is able to conduct great
action scenes on an obviously low budget, and make it look
so streamlined from the very beginning. |
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The entire film has
an overall grainy quality to it that helps with the experience and
paired with the great script, the film simply never misses a beat.
There’s also Monica Barajas who bears a slight resemblance to Frigga of
“Thriller: A Cruel Picture,” popping cigarettes in her mouth like it’s a
bodily function, and blasting her weapons with sheer precision, she’s a
bad ass of a heroine, and she’s drawn with enough depth to warrant a
rally from the viewers, and Bilinski thankfully never turns her into a
cliché. Jomar Banks is a great antithesis to Foxxy Madonna providing an
over the top antagonist that’s entertaining and threatening enough to
warrant him a proper threat, and the two just tussle from the first time
they meet, and Bilinski never lets up. I wish all directors were this
inventive in their short film efforts, and Bilinski just aims for the
sky, here.
The best way I
can put it is: This movie fucking rocked. It’s rare there are films out
there under twenty minutes that can tell such a linear and entertaining
narrative, with sheer creativity, imagination, and an atmosphere that
perfectly capture the Grind house motif. I’m surprised, and this movie
is excellent.
- For more
information on "Foxxy Madonna vs. The Black Death," including
festival dates, and cast information,
visit
the official website.
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