College Times

Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Movies

Media Credit: Courtesy Triumph Films

"Zombie Strippers" is the best case of truth in advertising you're ever going to see. With the title and the top billing of porn star Jenna Jameson, there are zero expectations for this movie, because it is aimed at the men who love both zombies and strippers. Surprisingly, it works.

In the movie, a paramilitary organization plays around with a zombie virus. An infected soldier escapes the science lab and winds up at an underground strip club owned by a germ phobic Robert Englund, the former Freddy Kruger. The virus spreads among the strippers, actually making them better stage dancers. From there, it's just a silly, bloody time.

It's funny, very stupid, cashes in on the recent love of zombie comedies and makes great use of Jameson's comfort with nudity. It's obvious that Jameson's most believable acting was on the stripper pole, but it helps that she does have at least a tinge of comedic personality. Not much, but it's there.

The rest of the movie continually contradicts itself in pleasant ways. The movie looks like it's low budget, but includes some impressive practical effects. It grates with inane plot points, but takes the time to develop the characters and fills plot holes. It fails at serious dialogue, but manages funny zingers that make it more like zom-comedy "Return of the Living Dead" than anything else.

If there is one complaint, it's the last fifteen minutes of the movie that drags on too long, at which point all the creativity and zombie mayhem has been exhausted.

However, the truth is "Zombie Strippers" combines a lot of trends currently being seen in the horror genre, independent filmmaking and porn, strangely enough.

Basically, zombie flicks are the easiest to do, since all you really need are a half-baked idea for a cause of the zombies and a cache of grey makeup. For those looking to break into the business, horror is the easiest route to get your flicks noticed. It has been the method for director Jay Lee, and if you're Jenna Jameson, "Zombie Strippers" is the vehicle to launch your name into non-porn movies. Mission accomplished.

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