Zombie Cheerleading Camp. Reviewed by Brian Kirst
www.zombiecheerleadingcamp.com
Writer/director Jon Fabris’ Zombie Cheerleading Camp is a unique beast – a low brow hijink ridden joyride that turns into a nihilistic reality check by the final moments. These qualities give this film a charm and appeal despite some of its shambling flaws.
The plot is lovingly simple – three sad sack hometown boys romance a trio of visiting cheerleaders at the local camp with undead mayhem occurring after one of the guys is attacked by a murderous squirrel.
Fabris’ sense of fun and realistic assessment (and use) of his resources (a sawdust filled squirrel and a blood soaked dummy’s head figure prominently) work wonders throughout the film – and would have been even keener if some blood had flowed before the halfway point. (Horror-comedy fans can forgive a lot if you give ‘em some copious gruesomeness to enjoy during the flatter moments.) But Fabris’ enthusiasm keeps you turning in and even the consistently casual performances (with truly solid turns from Chris White as the male lead, Cotton, and Terry Chandeline Nicole Westfall as the obnoxious Coach Sullivan) eventually flow into the film’s rambunctious style.
By the end, Fabris turns his hand a bit when things get much closer to Romero’s Night of the Living Dead in style and some of the final camera work is actually quite haunting and elegantly achieved.
Fabris has made his incredibly low budget work for him here – leaving one with the hope that one day he gets enough funding to show the world what he truly can do.
