I love how in the very middle of the film when hero Randall has lost all hope he’s greeted by the vision of a young girl who insists the only way to beat the zombies is ninjas. Almost as if that’s been the natural choice for every decision involving zombies in pop culture. Ninjas, duh! “Ninjas vs. Zombies” is the pop culture ode that I could definitely get behind. Sure it’s micro budget and lacking in solid performances, but it’s such an unabashed celebration of this ridiculous concept it’s tough not to enjoy. I’m not surprised there’s a follow-up on the way, that’s for sure.
Tag Archives: Zombies
Driller: A Sexual Thriller (1984)
Oh boy I knew I was in for something special when I received “Driller” in the mail with the address barely completed and the return address basically missing. The very fact X Rated Alley received this beauty of a horror porno called Driller is one thing, but to deliver it in mysterious packaging is the icing on the cake. I had an idea of what I getting in to upon looking at the deluxe packaging for Mr. Creepo’s “Driller” from 1984, a veritable porno spoof (and carefully constructed one at that so as to prevent legal issues) of Michael Jackson’s iconic Thriller. For those unaware (and how could you not be?), Thriller was a cultural sensation of the eighties and continues to be the go to for the template for epic music videos to this day. The plot basically boils down to a thirty minute movie that doubles as an amazing music video with a catchy song. A young couple in a movie theater walk home one night and find themselves in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and must fight their way out. Cue one of the most amazing musical numbers of all time, a shockingly incredible dance number involving drooling groaning zombies, and compelling narration from Vincent Price.
Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! – Strippers vs. Zombies (2008)
A group of strippers, two hookers, a bouncer, and a pimp run in to a strip club after hours. The start of a funny joke? It’s the premise for “Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!” a surprisingly well made and entertaining horror comedy considering the miniscule budget that it works on from the minute one. Notice how the strip club is the same exterior as the ice rink from the prologue. But who cares? “Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!” is a classic grind house throwback that features a group of mismatched survivors and malcontents going up against an endless horde of the walking dead.
Aaah! Zombies!! (2007)
There’s something absolutely genius about director Matthew Kohnen’s horror comedy in which he concocts a formula that’s been done before, and yet feels absolutely brand new. We’ve seen it a thousand times: the government is devising a new toxin for war fare and before they realize it they’ve created a breeding fluid for zombified soldiers. Choosing instead to do away with it, they camouflage the chemical as baby formula and drive it off to a deserted locale. Thanks to inept truck drivers, a barrel falls off the truck and in to a local town behind a bowling alley.
Horno (2009)
Director Terrence Williams shows real promise on occasion, especially with films like “The Hood Has Eyez,” and with his newest film entitled “Horno,” he has an interesting concept but one that doesn’t pan out to an interesting movie. I wish I could have loved the shameless disgusting tripe that was doled out as something Troma angled, but in the end it’s just a good concept with a pretty faulty delivery. Williams has the right idea by inventing a concept within a concept, almost like a meta-movie, but the fact remains that hornos are a relatively established concept. Joe D’Amato infamously did it with films like “Sexy Erotic Nights of the Living Dead.”
The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season (DVD)
From Anchor Bay Entertainment comes the much touted adaptation one of the most groundbreaking comic books of the new millennium. A thinking man’s horror comic book and teeming with literary value and mainstream appeal, “The Walking Dead” was a series begging to be made in to a big screen version from issue one. Thankfully AMC Networks latched on to the Frank Darabont led production and turned it in to a television series.
What began as a gamble on the horror genre and on a mostly underground comic book, has become a juggernaut that has benefitted the horror community for the better. The highest rated AMC network premiere of all time, and charged by a plethora of seasoned character actors from Jeffrey DeMunn, Laurie Holden and Andrew Lincoln and up and comers like Emma Bell, Jon Bernthal, and Steven Yeun, “The Walking Dead” has been an unstoppable pop culture force.
A Very Zombie Holiday (2010)
Who is Team Unicorn, why haven’t I heard of them until now, and why is “A Very Zombie Holiday” the best thing ever? Is it the best thing ever? It’s the best thing ever. Redundancy be damned, be damned! There is no emoticon for the anger I’m feeling for not being aware of this troupe! Team Unicorn is apparently a small comedy team comprised of four hilarious and incredibly gorgeous women whose entire shtick revolves around comedy shorts. This one in particular is called “A Very Zombie Holiday.”