Scream Queen Hot Tub Party

I grew up like most kids in the late 80's/early 90's...drooling over scream queens and renting every T&A horror flick I could get past my parents. If only I would have found this classic cheese and squeeze at the local video store...I probably would have went blind.

Scream Queen Hot Tub Party features 5 scream queens stripping, dancing, working out topless, getting raped by zombies, and taking showers. On top of that you get T&A footage from previous Fred Olen Ray/Jim Wynorski films edited in to pad it to it's 50 minute run time. This was a movie made for the 12-year old boy in all of us. It might be the most exploitive film I've ever seen though. For some reason I couldn't help but feel ashamed during Kelli Maroney's workout scene. Another bummer thing about the film is Linnea Quigley is M.I.A in this one. I mean, how do you make a film called "Scream Queen Hot Tub Party" and don't cast Linnea Quigley?

Anyways, this is a great pick up if you can find it on DVD. It also comes with a weird 35 minute foot fetish short staring Michelle Bauer and virgin porn star Jarica Fox called "One Million Heels B.C."

Scream Queen Hot Tub Party (1991)

*** (out of 4)

Scream Queens Michelle Bauer, Brinke Stevens, Monique Gabrielle, Kelli Maroney and Roxanne Kemohan are brought together for a hot tub party. Once all five are in the small hot tub they talk about some of their movies.

As the title clearly suggests, you really shouldn't expect too much plot here as this straight-to-VHS released was simply made to show off nudity. The formula is pretty simple as each of the five Scream Queens talk about certain movies, we then see them naked in that movie and finally they get their own "segment" where they discuss an aspect of being a Scream Queen. For example, when it's Stevens turn, she discusses and shows us the proper way to take a shower in a horror film.

The movie clips include films like THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE, SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE 2 and HARD TO DIE. Again, this thing was shot in one day and was clearly meant for directors Fred Olen Ray and Jim Wynorski to make some quick cash. After all, anyone who grew up renting videos back in the day are well aware of these ladies so the idea of them in a hot tub together was something that was going to be an easy sell. You really can't take this film too serious as it's just cheap fun with a lot of nudity.

Five gals are summoned to a mysterious house for a seminar. When they arrive the host is nowhere to be found, so they start out playing with the Ouija board in skimpy nighties. Then they movie into the Hot Tub where each gal takes turns discussing a topic from their career. We get a lesson in horror movie showers and some weight lifting as a few examples. There are movie clips featuring the five main stars, as well as clips featuring other actresses.

I own the Blu Ray edition from Retromedia. I would say if you already own the regular DVD release there's no real extras or improvements in the quality of the film to make it worth upgrading.

Michelle Bauer, Brinke Stevens (Slumber Party Massacre), Kelli Maroney (Chopping Mall, Face Down), Monique Gabrielle (Deathstalker II, Bachelor Party) and Roxanne Kernohan (Critters 2) are the gals. I bought this for Kelli Maroney. This was the first time that Kelli Maroney bared any flesh.

Pretty much a last harrah for the golden age of Scream Queens, plot-wise the era ends on a whimper. However entertainment wise it ends with a bang. Showing a lot of clips to pad out the still skimpy 49 minute running time and name-dropping other films at the drop of a hat. This film still succeed at what the film's main purpose is: Showing nudity and loads of it. Yea, the jokes are beyond lame and grown worthy, yea the story sucks, and yes the clips DO wear thin quite a bit. But this is pretty much the last movie to find Scream Queens in all their '80's glory. I know it was technically made in the '90's, but trust me it's an 80's movie through and through. (the 80's movies started a bit earlier than the '80's with "the Warriors" by the way)

My Grade: C+

I grew up with Cinemax in the house and late night Cinemax was a great place to find these movies. But Scream Queen Hot Tub Party is kinda bad. Took me years to find a copy and when I did I was not impressed. Its a few short cuts of cheap video footage mixed in with clips from much better movies. If you've seen them then you've seen everything you need to and you dont need this movie. It looks ugly and the "plot" is even thinner than the movies it showcases. You'll be happier if you track down the other Jim Wynorski and Fred Olen Ray films & just watch those over a couple weekends. Scream Queen Hot Tub Party adds nothing to the genre and what it has is low quality.