Something to Scream About

I got this video because my favorite b actress Lilith Stabs is in it but was very disappointed with the coverage given to her by the producer. We are treated at length to Julie Strain pretending she is disgusted at requests for nudity when that is the only reason she has made a name in the scene. Just about every b actress today will drop their clothing to get cast. Lilith Stabs has made it plain in interviews all over the place that she does not do nudity. Perhaps this is a big part of the reason she winds up in crappy productions like Bad Movie Police or Severe Injuries where her roles are small & do not give her a chance to show her natural ability. Her first few movies were tailored to her highly erotic fetish persona & she was fabulous in them. Her looks & body are far superior to any of the whining primadonnas in this production.

This is a documentary that was recommended to me via the algorithms on Tubi. I also didn't realize that I saw it streaming on Screambox as well. What made me pull the trigger is that while watching another doc and this one was brought. Brinke Stevens is the host here as well and it is made by Tempe Entertainment, who also did the Shock Cinema series.

What I like about this documentary even more than the ones I keep referencing is that they have an interesting grouping of scream queens to talk about their experiences getting into making movies, things they've gone through both good and bad while working as well as a vibe of where they think things will go. This last one is more about their individual careers, or at the least, what they're willing to do for it.

We get the likes of Debbie Rochon, Julie Strain, Judith O'Dea, Ariauna Albright, Brandi Burkett, Debra De Liso, Denice Duff, Felissa Rose and Lilith Stabe. Like I've already said, it is interesting to have a cross section like this because Rochon has done upwards of almost 300 films as of writing this. She refuses to do nudity. Then you have Strain who acknowledges she's not a good actor and didn't have the training, but she had no issues with getting naked. That is something I love here is just hearing how all these women were able to work like they have. Some feel they've been taken advantage of, or at least stood up to people that tried to. It is both inspiring and other times heartbreaking.

I'll then finish out with talking about the filmmaking techniques. I did like that this starts with giving us the different topics that will be covered. It then is edited where we'll jump between the different actors, sometimes mirroring similar experiences where others will be the opposite. It does make it feel jumbled at times. There is footage edited in to help show things they're saying, that's a good touch. It just falls a bit short. Still worth a watch if you're a horror fan and interested in learning more about what goes into being a scream queen.

My Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

J.R. Bookwalter's Tempe Entertainment scares up this documentary tapping the experiences of several horror starlets (aka 'Scream Queens'). Brinke Stevens (a scream queen in her own right) is mistress of ceremonies that includes interviews with: Julie Strain (Penthouse Pet, Heavy Metal 2000), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Debbie Rochon (Dead & Rotting), Judith O'Dea (the original Night of the Living Dead), Denice Duff (Subspecies 2 + 3) and a few others.

Although it isn't a detailed study of the iconic screen scream queen (say that 6 times fast) 'Something' do a pretty decent job portraying the mantel from the actresses' perspectives and experiences. Not strictly a 'talking head' piece it's peppered with clips, footage and photos. Most of the usual topics are addressed: nudity, violence and the inevitable effect the genre has on 'normal' people. 'Scream' is a solid view for the fanboy in all of us.

Jason Paul Collum got it right with this one, a documentary probing the scream queen phenomenon that tackles real topics instead of going the easy route with hot tubs and lingering cheesecake shots.

Collum reveals all the actresses interviewed to be intelligent and sensible, something that goes against the popular ideology of the scream queen since the 1980's. Fans should be pleased to see that the public will learn that there's more to their favorite actresses then just good looks - brains too.

Topics range from public perception of their respective personas to enjoyment of the genre that made them famous. Some of the ladies look back on their time with fondness while others seem to have some disdain for where the industry is headed.

Well worth tracking down.

It was very interesting to see how the Scream Queens got their start in the business. Some by accident, and others because it is easier to get in the film business through horror.

One of the most interesting discussions was on nudity and how they dealt with the call for it in the film. Some would not do it, and others saw it as normal. Debbie Rochon gives a great talk on the subject by explaining how natural it is in Europe. I especially liked the point that we need to quit focusing on 19-year-old bodies, as European actresses do nudity at any age.

The subject of money and exploitation comes up frequently. It is apparent that they are not paid well for these roles. As Rochon said, she can do 25 movies in a year and still not pay all her bills.

It is fascinating to share some time with these beauties and listen to what made them what they are today.