Review of Shock-O-Rama

Fed-up B-horror scream queen Rebecca Raven (a winningly spirited and self-deprecating performance by the adorable Misty Mundae) gets sacked by the low-rent studio that regularly employs her. Raven goes to a remote house in the country to rest while sleazeball hack director Frank (a deliciously smarmy Michael R. Thomas) looks for a new starlet to replace her. First and most amusing yarn, "Mecharachnia" - A couple of mischievous tiny aliens terrorize down-on-his-luck junkyard owner Jed Callahan (amiable Rob Monkiewicz) and his feisty ex-girlfriend Linda (foxy brunette spitfire Caitlin Ross). This segment boasts some very funky old school-style stop-motion animation special effects, with a towering makeshift monster made out of spare car parts rating as the definite highlight. Second and most inspired story, "Zombie This" - Raven has to tap into her experience as a veteran schlock horror actress after she accidentally resurrects a shambling zombie (Duane Polcou in nifty make-up). It's a real treat to watch Mondae parody her trash pic goddess persona (she even takes an obligatory nude bath) and get tough as she kicks some pesky undead butt. Third and most outrageous story, "Lonely Are the Brain" - Crazy mad scientist Dr. Carruthers (nicely played by the luscious Julian Wells) uses a handful of lovely young ladies in a home for wayward women as guinea pigs in dangerous experiments conducted for an evil giant brain with an insatiable hunger for erotic pleasure. It's up to brassy take-charge lass Naomi (a strong and sympathetic turn by the yummy AJ Khan) to stop Carruthers. This wonderfully warped affair offers a deliriously intoxicating mix of tasty female nudity, kinky soft-core sex, and trippy, surreal, nightmarish visuals. Writer/director Brett Piper maintains a brisk pace throughout and does a fine job of creating a playfully macabre atmosphere. Moreover, the enthusiastic cast have an absolute ball with their juicy roles and Jon Greathouse supplies a delightfully campy Danny Elfmanesque rollicking ooga-booga score. A great deal of blithely goofy fun.