| Redneck Zombies (1987) |
| Directed by Pericles Lewnes. Starring Lisa DeHaven, W.E. Benson, William W. Decker , James Housely, and Tyrone Taylor. |
| A lot of people have criticised Redneck Zombies as being a bad film, but when you consider that it was made for under $10 000 , it really is a great example of what talented filmmakers can do on a meagre budget. The movie, shot on video, is about a hillbilly bootlegger called Jed, and his sons Junior, Jethro, and Billy Bob ( his confused son, who demands to be called Ellie Mae due to watching too many re-runs of The Beverly Hillbillies on satelite t.v). The four have just finished their latest batch of moonshine, which due to Billie Bobs' incompetence has been contaminated with toxic waste. The boys don't care though, and Billie Bob loads up the pickup to deliver the latest batch to the townsfolk, while the others sample the green 'shine. Meanwhile a bunch of campers including a lookalike of This is Spinal Tap director Marty DeBergi ( one of the films many in-jokes), a drunken guy who never utters a word, and a guy called Bob, who's a dead ringer for Tiger Woods are setting up camp. The moonshine distillers, and all the townsfolk who drank the toxic brew turn into oatmeal faced zombies, and begin roaming the woods in search of blood, leading to a violent, gore-soaked, and hilarious climax. |
| Being a fan of zombie films, redneck films, and Troma movies, I couldn't help but like this. This movie was a hell of a lot more blood-soaked than your usual Troma movie. I was really impressed with the gore fx they were able to acheive on such a miniscule budget, especially the hammer through the head, and the zombie who gets his head blasted off with a shotgun. I also loved the in-jokes, and homages....in particular the Texas Chainsaw Massacre ones, like when Billie Bob picks up a hitcher who tells him that he and his brother work at the old barber shop : " We'll give you a shave, and a haircut....for free!". My favorite scene has to be the one in the old mine, where Bob ( Tiger Woods lookalike) is doing an autopsy on a zombie while under the influence of acid. In his hallucinatory state, he sees the zombie innards as shoes, corncobs, beer cans, and dolls....it's hilarious! This movie has a lot of effective almost dreamlike scenes, especially the hideously deformed tobacco salesmans monologue on the perils of throat cancer. If you are looking for a horror movie that is gory, action packed, hilarious, and ingenious you should give this a try. As far as no-budget horror goes, this is leaps and bounds ahead of the much less imaginative, short-film squeezed into an hour and a half Blair Witch Project. |
| Entertainment : 3 out of 4 |
| Watchability : 3 out of 4 |
| Overall : 3 out of 4 |
| Reviewed by Blake. |
| UPDATE!!! STILL A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO MONEY AND A BIT OF INGENUITY, REDNECK ZOMBIES IS NOW AVAILABLE UNCUT IN AUSTRALIA THANKS TO STOMP ENTERTAINMENT: |