Plot: What’s it about?
The plot here serves no real purpose in terms of narrative, instead it just allows for the female stars to shed their clothes. I’d normally complain about the lack of story depth, but come on, we’re talking about naked scream queens here. There is a thin layer of plot however, which at least puts some kind of reason behind the naked bodies. A man known as Count Byron Orlock has invited five B movie starlets to his eerie mansion, for what reasons, none of the women are sure. Brinke Stevens, Michelle Bauer, Roxanne Kernohan, Kelli Maroney, and Monique Gabrielle all arrive at Orlock’s mansion without minutes of each other, so right from the start, the five begin to try to figure out why they’ve been summoned. The invitation claimed a seminar on low rent horror cinema was in place, but there is no sign of such an event at the mansion. In order to gain some insight, the girls order up a Ouija board and some scanty lingerie, both of which are soon put to use, as the ladies slip into more comfortable linens. As time passes, the women begin to share stories about the various movies they have starred in, with vivid memories of the productions. Soon enough, the hot tub calls and all five drop top and climb in the warm waters. Will they ever figure out why Orlock has invited them, or will the nudity be reason enough?
Ok, so this isn’t a movie in the traditional sense, but for fans of low rent horror and scream queens, it is a must own release. I do want to warn you however, the movie reveals scenes from other movies, so be prepared to have some scenes spoiled. But if you’re a veteran of schlock, then you’ve seen all the flicks before. You’ll have fun strolling memory lane with some of cinema’s finest scream queens, as they recall memorable scenes. Of course, with a running time of under an hour, this is not an in depth look at the stars. But in a brisk, fun way, Scream Queen Hot Tub Party is a warm look at the scream queen status. I would love to see a feature length edition of this, but now we have Something to Scream About, a full length look inside the world of the women of horror. But the campish tone of Scream Queen Hot Tub Party gives it a certain edge, not to mention the nice nude sequences. Brinke Stevens (Delta Delta Die, Teenage Exorcist) and Michelle Bauer (Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Dr. Alien) are the highlights here, while the others, even Monique Gabrielle (Evil Toons, Chained Heat) add little to the experience. This title will hold court with fans of the genre, but outside of those viewers, I doubt there’s much interest. But as a fan of low rent horror, I had a blast with Scream Queen Hot Tub Party.
Video: How does it look?
Scream Queen Hot Tub Party is presented in full frame, as intended. The visuals here look good, though this was obviously a quickie, low rent project. Even so, the print has no real signs of damage or debris, though softness is an issue. The softness results in loss of subtle detail, but all the breasts and butts are still clear enough. I also think the production methods limited the visuals, so I doubt the movie could look much crisper. The colors seem bright and bold, while contrast is never a problem in the least. So while some minor quibbles can be found, given the material involved, this is a fine visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
A basic, but more than acceptable soundtrack is found here, one which covers the rather minimal needs of the material quite well. The audio is limited to dialogue for the most part, outside of some cheese laden music. In other words, there isn’t much depth or range to the material, so the audio never has much work to do. The various film clips do add some power, such as screams and chainsaw sounds, but still, the track remains basic throughout. No complaints however, as the audio is as good as can be expected.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A riotous audio commentary with Fred Olen Ray and Jim Wynorski, who directed under aliases, is a great addition. The track is packed with insight into the ladies and their films, as well as schlock cinema on the whole. A bonus film titled One Million Heels B.C. is a fun watch, especially for fans of Michelle Bauer.
