Stomp! Shout! Scream! (2005)

MVI’m still trying to wrap my brain around the concept of how independent filmmakers with limited resources are so able to achieve the sixties camp value and genuine atmosphere of the kitschy sock hop era so easily, and yet studios with bloated budgets really can’t hit that mark. “Stomp! Shout! Scream!” is a well done fifties throwback that kept me engrossed from the opening musical montage that hit the mark without much effort. And I dare you not to tap your feet to the catchy theme song entitled—well—“Stomp! Shout! Scream!”

I enjoyed this very much because Edwards film is very reminiscent of camp classics like “Horror at Party Beach” and the old Frankie and Annette vehicles, as the simplistic plot only serves to expose the talents Edwards puts on display, not to mention the cast is head up by many talented actors particularly by the actresses playing the band mates. But imagine “The Horror at Party Beach” meets The Monkees and you’ll get the general idea of what Edwards is striving for. Something mysterious washes up on the shores of a beach, a monster emerges, and the local officers are trying to uncover the mystery when a young cop is found dead on the beach. Not to mention there’s only one surviving witness of the monster, a small girl who is in a state of shock. How can you not enjoy a movie touted as “A Rock and Roll Beach Party Monster Movie”? I ask you.

The main characters of this dandy little flick are not some boy and girl yuppy, but instead a rather aggressive female rock band that ends up stranded at the very town the murders are taking place in. The lead singer has a secret and intimacy issues, while they befriend a local scientist who is investigating the attacks. The girl band in question is called the Violas, a struggling rock band trying to make it by and trying to surpass the current female band the Shangri-Las. During their struggle to get out of the town, they find themselves in the middle of a monster frenzy. Edwards, instead of focusing on the fact that it’s the fifties and trying to camp it up, makes this memorable by focusing on story. There’s pure characterization, all the characters are interesting, and the chase for the monster is interesting, but Edwards never takes his creation too seriously, which you’ll witness in the climax.

And how can you top a musical number called “He gave me Syphilis”? Edwards knows how to gauge the audience, as I watched in shock of these girls singing about Syphilis with an actual straight face! “Stomp! Shout! Scream!” is a unique B monster movie romp that’s a lot of fun, and those with a genuine love of these sorts of throwbacks will have a pure blast, and don’t tell me that theme song isn’t fun to listen to. For the pure kitsch value, I suggest “Stomp! Shout! Scream!”, but there’s oh so much more going for it. Edwards never seeks to spoof, but tell an actual story, with great performances, and a wonderful soundtrack. I really enjoyed this in all its demented straight faced glory. John Waters would be proud.