Chillerama (2011, Movie Review)
This modern midnight movie masterpiece is bad in all of the right ways. The five-movies-in-one touches all of the cornerstones of Drive-in and B-movie history while keeping a contemporary style and providing all the right gags that are so bad they’re good.
The main storyline of Chillerama, also known as the “Zom-B-Movie,” centers around the last night of the last drive-in theater in America which is playing never before released movies and the various patrons—more specifically the teenagers trying to get with or get in the pants of their dates; Cecil Kaufman, the drive-in owner contemplating suicide after the final credits roll and a handful of other minor characters. However, in the opening sequence, one of the drive-in employees ventures across the street to a cemetery to relieve some unsettled sexual tension with his presumed dead wife. Her re-animated body gives him a highly contagious, sex drive-skyrocketing virus while removing some very important anatomy. He ventures back to theater where he contaminates the popcorn and begins the infection of the theaters patrons.
Intersecting this overarching story line are four faux films that will make and B-movie cinephile giddy with delight. The first, “Wadzilla” harkens back to the monster movies of yesteryear except it replaces the biologically mutated monsters with a killer, genetically enhanced sperm that wreaks havoc on 1950s-esque New York City. After a climax, in more ways than one, between this super-sized spermatozoa and the Statue of Liberty, this bukakke of B-monster bliss leaves the cast and viewing audience with a mouthful of laughs—and maybe a few other things.
Next on the bill is “I Was A Teenage Wearbear.” This riff on Rebel Without A Cause and beach blanket bingo films exchanges bikini clad bombshells for leather clad lads. Young Ricky, played by gay porn star Sean Paul Lockhart, has his repressed homosexuality awakened by greaser gang leader Talon who bites him during a gym class wrestling match and awakens his inner “werebear”. Complete with beach-based dance routines and luaus laced with lacerations, the bad boy werebear Talon is brought to an end not with a silver bullet but a silver… baton… of sorts.
Next on the dusk till dawn drive-in marquee is “The Diary of Anne Frankenstein.” This nazisploitation knock-off takes the story of Anne Frank and goose-steps all over it. While hiding out in the attic, Anne begins reading the diary of her grandfather which contains the secrets of his biological experimentations; that is until the gibberish speaking Hitler (in a completely German-speaking cast) and his brown shirts burst through the wall, kill everyone, and confiscate the diary. Hitler then compiles his killing machine monster, unknowingly complete with payots, tallit, and yamaka, named Meshugannah (played by Kane Hodder) who turns on him and kills the Führer and his lustful mistress Miss Braun.
Last, but not least is the sexscatsploitation film “Deathication”. This phony film starts with a warning from director Fernando Phagabeefy who warns the viewing audience that this film will indeed make them shit themselves to death. The few minutes of the film shown shows a muscleman blasting his glutes while dropping a deuce, big titted biddies getting shitty, and all kinds of other shit that make our inner middle schooler chuckle with glee. Unfortunately/fortunately, this segment is cut short as the zombie orgy takes over the drive-in and the undead literally fuck everything in sight.
Chillerama and all of its comprising films are very well-directed by their respective directors. The style of each of the films—even the post production effects of grainy film stock and malfunctioning film reels—feels right and are in no way forced. This film does use some CGI (which I normally look down on in films unless it is 110% necessary) but it does serve a purpose here, how else are you going to have a giant sperm rampaging through New York City? The CGI is blatantly used and is in no way supposed to be convincing, just like the special effects used in eras past when viewed today.
The four fake films featured in Chillerama, as well as the main story that threads them all together, truly captures the heart of the bygone staples of B-movies and drive-ins passed while keeping the ideas fresh and entertaining. This film, collaborated on by four directors; Adam Rifkin (Detroit Rock City), Tim Sullivan (2001 Maniacs), Adam Green (Hatchet), and Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2), truly delivers on its tagline of being “The Ultimate Midnight Movie”. From gross-out gore and gags, references to what seems like every movie/director/actor/famous line ever said in a film, topless chicks, and a stellar cast (did I mention this film features Lin Shaye (Insidious), Ron Jeremy (countless porn), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight) and Richard Riehle (Office Space)?), this film truly acknowledges and appreciates its roots while giving its viewers a refreshing take on the genres of yesteryear that we all know and love so much.
Chillerama will be released on Blu-Ray, DVD, and for digital download on November 29th, 2011 on Image Entertainment.
