Review: Zombie Strippers

Though broader and less funny than Idiocracy, the political commentary of Zombie Strippers is effectively one-note.

Zombie Strippers
Photo: Triumph Films

Even hardcore fans of the undead—myself included—may be surprised to learn that Jay Lee’s softcore Zombie Strippers is far from the first of its kind; a Google search for the term “zombie porn” brings up titles as far reaching as the 1980 Italian feature Burial Ground to the 2004 web-produced Re-Penetrator. Though some may find such ultra-kinky material too extreme for viewing pleasure, rest assured that this lurid and funny send-up has its, uhh, pleasures, even if you’re not looking to get off in the process. The outbreak of a mutated virus finds its way into an underground gentlemen’s club, the reanimated corpses ultimately performing better on stage than their living counterparts. So goes the simple absurdity of Lee’s film—suggesting that men’s desire to fuck outweighs even the most basic survival instincts—though not before an opening reminiscent of Southland Tales’ television sequences. According to Lee’s satire, 2012 will see the third (some would say second) reelection of George W. Bush, who will have by then been added to Mount Rushmore, become an official business enterprise, begun some dozen more wars across the globe, and in one of many impulsive acts, dissolved Congress. The zombies, as it turns out, are just another government program designed to squash the middle and lower classes under the weight of the elite. Though broader and less funny than Idiocracy, the political commentary of Zombie Strippers is effectively one-note, keeping things short and sweet as the film moves from one hot dance number to another with a steady flow of exploding heads in between, schlocky genre titillation distilled to its essence. Look no further than the numerous stripteases crammed throughout, successfully fusing the narrative with a weirdly prurient thrust.

Score: 
 Cast: Robert Englund, Jenna Jameson, Roxy Saint, Tito Ortiz, Joey Medina, Shamron Moore, Penny Drake, Jennifer Holland, John Hawkes  Director: Jay Lee  Screenwriter: Jay Lee  Distributor: Triumph Films  Running Time: 98 min  Rating: R  Year: 2008  Buy: Video

Rob Humanick

Rob Humanick is the projection manager at the Mahoning Drive-In Theater in Lehighton, Pennsylvania.

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