Creepozoids

Creepozoids

This 1987 sci-fi horror film is intended as a b-movie or a drive in movie where you can make out with your partner and occasionally glance up at the screen to see some questionable make-up effects or a bit of naked flesh, it's not intended to be taken seriously.

The story centres around 5 army deserters in a post-apocalyptic 1998. They take shelter from acid rain (caused by the nuclear fallout) in an abandoned research station and quickly discover that it was made to contain something within as opposed to fortify it from the outside. They decide to stay as there is ample food and luxuries such as a hot shower (we'll get to that later), however there is something else in there with them. Over the next 40 minutes or so the group is picked off one by one by the creepozoid, which generally causes them to spit black bile and semi-mutate although Kate (played by Kim McKamy aka the porn star Ashlyn Gere) goes more demonised Evil Dead style when bitten by an mutated rat and attacks the other female Blanka (scream queen Linnea Quigley). The only one to survive is Jake (Richard Hawkins) who then must battle it out with a mutant baby that has an uncanny resemblance to the baby from It's Alive.

From that premise what's not to like? We get a latex clad monster, giant mutated rats, a killer baby and Linnea Quigley who delights us all with an outstanding shower scene. What's not to like?

Well�

For starters none of the actors can in fact act, Quigley, for all her eye candy beauty delivers her lines badly and doesn't seem to know what to do when she has no lines. The rest of the cast, particularly Ken Abraham, are awful to watch as they spew out there lines from an equally dire script.

The direction is purely 'painting by the numbers' and DeCoteau shows no real flare or skill but then again nothing is strikingly bad about it either.

The picture quality is pretty much what you would expect from VHS but that's to be expected from older horror films because most prints don't get the love and treatment they expect. The sound isn't that bad, it's a good clean recording that has been cleaned up of static.

The set and production values are vintage b-movie fare, making the film look like it was filmed in someone's garage (which it probably was).

A few of the effects are not too bad, namely the bile spewing moments, but the monster is extremely plastic looking and the baby, although the best effect, is given too much screen times thus allowing the audience time to scrutinise it. The rats, however, are laughable, although fun.

This said Creepozoids is a fun film and I could not help but enjoy moments of it. I say 'fun' because it is not good but it has a certain camp value that is enjoyable as well as all the elements of an 80's sci-fi to make it good fodder viewing, you don't have to pay much attention, it doesn't make you think, it wont affect your political or world views. Think Red Dwarf without the witty dialogue or characterisation.

The official length is 72 minutes although we are into the credits at about 65 minutes, so at just over an hour long Creepozoids is ideal as a pre-feature warmer. It is the sort of film, which, if you are not expecting much from it and prepared not to try and take it seriously could be a lot of fun and get you in the mood for a more accomplished sci-fi or horror movie. It isn't exactly repeat viewing material so I wouldn't part with your hard earned money but it is worth a watch.

Extras:

The usual Hard Gore trailer reel and some notes on Quigley which really isn't that great a read.

Review by Marc Woods


 
Released by Hard Gore
Region All PAL
Rated 18
Extras : see main review
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