Scream Queen Hot Tub Party

As a die hard horror fan, and a Jim Wynorski fan in particular, I can honestly say I never thought I could be so happy. Scream Queen Hot Party was a magical journey of wonder and merriment...In other words, there were breasts and skimpy nighties galore. It's always a pleasure to see these ladies, and before seeing SQHTP I'd already seen pretty much every film each had made. I agree with another reviewer that Linnea Quigley should have been involved, she is after all, the all-time unquestioned reigning Scream Queen, but she DID get her own work-out video, also with breasts and nighties galore, and Scream Queen Hot Tub Party and Linnea Quigley's Horror Workout make quite the double feature.

Having seen Michelle, Brinke, and Monique nude so many times (it never gets old, though), I gotta say the biggest treat for me was Kelli Maroney. I saw Night of the Comet and Chopping Mall (both excellent films) and in Chopping Mall she was the cute, quiet girl, then in Night of the Comet she was the ditzy, take-no-prisoners cheerleader but not a hint of boobies from her in either film...Well, the wait's finally over and they were exquisite. She even wears her cheerleader outfit from Night of the Comet before her big scene. I like cute, quiet girls AND cheerleaders, so I was already a fan, but now I'm an even bigger fan...if you know what I mean...Wait, what was I talking about? Anyway, she's absolutely adorable, as always.

Roxeanne Kernohan was excellent too. The only film I'd seen with her was Not of This Earth, and she was quite funny (and lovely) in that as well, although it was a very small role. In this she plays the goof of the quintet, the butt of every joke. Huh-huh...butt...get it? Sorry...

Anyway, if you're a fan of cheesy comedy/horror films and especially if you're familiar with such films as Nightmare Sisters, Sorority Babes In The Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, Chopping Mall, Sorority House Massacre II, Hard to Die, Not of This Earth, etc., you'll love Scream Queen Hot Tub Party.

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.

It's a rare film that brings together so much legendary horror talent—the last time I recall such a gathering of genre greats was in Pete Walker's House of the Long Shadows, only that one didn't have its stars stripping off and hopping into a hot tub together (now that's what I would call horror!).

At less than an hour, the running time for Scream Queen Hot Tub Party is extremely short, just like the nighties the girls wear whilst holding their obligatory Ouija board session; similarly, the plot is thinner than its stars' underwear. Despite this lack of substance, the low, low production values, and some truly groan-worthy dialogue, scream queen fans still get value for money, each lady eagerly showing off their particular horror movie skills while wearing the minimum of clothing.

Brinke Stevens explains the art of the horror movie shower, going through each move in detail (I found things quick and easy to pick up; I'm now a master at soaping up my chest and lifting one leg to hide my naughty bits); Monique Gabrielle does an erotic vampire dance; Michelle Bauer puts Leatherface to shame whirling a chainsaw around like a dervish; Roxanne Kernohan acts goofy and gets attacked by a crappy monster; and, in a special treat for horror fans, the hitherto relatively reserved Kelli Maroney joins in the fun, greasing up her frontage to pump some iron.

'Classic' clips from the girls' finest films pad out the run-time to the full fifty minutes (these can be a bit boring if you've already seen their films in their entirety), after which the lovely ladies grab the soap and help each other to wash those difficult to reach parts of the body.

Cinema can be many things to many people. Some view film as a way to escape their mundane lives and live through the heroic characters displayed upon the big screen. Some search for a moment that will trigger an epiphany, answering a question that has beguiled them in real life. Some seek a feeling of triumph that can only be displayed when art takes motion and the underdog finally has their day. Some want proof that mankind can overcome, join as one, and view as a singular audience the joys of cinema without the modern day dividers that plague our current existence.

This celluloid miracle is made up of many things: Plot, cinematography, story, character, lighting, narrative, sound, editing and of course...an actor's portrayal of the subject.

In the year nineteen hundred and ninety one "Scream Queen Hot Tub Party" was unleashed. One would be foolish to attempt a full review of this venture which clocks in at just under one single hour.

What can be said, is that it overachieves in more ways than one. It is a triumph in it's simplicity. It can only be applauded and therefore described in a victorious, emphatic, neon and singular word. And that word is.....TITTIES!

Bravo, "Scream Queen Hot Tub Party", Bravo!

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+