Scream Baby Scream

I can't explain my adoration for this film. I initially saw it sometime in the mid-80's and it was love at first sight. Perhaps it's because it reminds me of Hershell Gordon Lewis with less gore and (somewhat) better acting? Who knows and who cares?! Hot tunes, bad hair, and acid-washed brains make for good times. SCREAM, BABY, SCREAM is a riot and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys those preposterous '60's tripped-out monster movies (you know who you are). For a double dose of groovy gory fun, track down a copy of BLOOD FREAK and you'll never be the same.

I found this movie at a XXX store for $1 on VHS. The interesting thing about it is that Camp Video bought up the rights to it and slapped on a 1986 copywrite date in the credits. Anyways, enough of odd facts.

This film is absolutely not scary. To even call this horror or a "thriller" is laughable. There were only maybe 5 minutes at most of what you would call horror in this 80+ minute film, and that consisted of the acting, because it was HORRORible! All puns aside, the writing for this film was absolute garbage as well, just as the special effects and makeup was laughable. No wonder this is such an obscure film, probably the director has spent the last 35 years scouring the country for all existing copies of it and burning them in one big pile so no one else could be subjected to it.

Uuuugh this is an ugly movie. The ultimate bargain basement thriller. I bought my copy for three bucks @ a video store in Hopkinsville, KY. The acting is really bad, the plot has potential, sort of, but is instantly killed by the aformentioned bad acting. The jazzy, lounge music soundtrack doesn't fit the film at all. I will be co-hosting a movie review show at my college next semester, and will be reviewing this movie to show the host that the Hammer classic Frankenstein Created Woman is NOT a bad movie compared to other stuff out there.

The script is probably the best thing here, the make-up maybe the worst. Larry Cohen would later revise this idea for THE AMBULANCE. There is some fun 70's elements to this movie like chicks dancing in unison and a, rather disappointed trippin' on acid scene, though it does have the characters imagining they are animals at the zoo. There is some good dialog and though the script provides lots of opportunities the pacing of the film though does get a bit sluggish at times. Still a typically odd and interesting Larry Cohen script, would be great to see him or a better director remake it with better actors and better make-up. More naked butts than anything else but for those who wonder is there nudity as part of a decision to see something or not, the answer here is yes some. Fun credit sequence as well.

...Or is this another way below the bottom-of-the-barrel masterpiece? Preferably both! Somewhere between 1969 and 1972 came a host of several horrible horror movies that are all but lost again. Nothing more needs to be explained, asked, or screamed out loud. If you followed closely at my writings about CARNIVAL OF BLOOD or GURU THE MAD MONK, then you know what's in store with SCREAM BABY SCREAM. The title sounds cool; it's just the weak script that should have gone someplace else! Even so, this is hands down, the most dreadfully written piece of cinematic mastery ever worked on film!

If you thought this is an early slasher (which benefits the average IMDb user to write up another comment), better luck next time! The real truth behind the script has NOTHING to do with the movie, which supposedly tells of a blue-faced psychopath out to "kill" and make some ugly facial sculptures on his victims. It feels like you're watching another early "SCOOBY-DOO" episode. My favorite scene is the monkey cage where the four young hippie teenagers play in. And hooray for an actress under the name "Eugenie Wingate" for giving us the worst facial makeover, ever! 1969 has never been this bad, but it is!

Try finding this 30-year old rarity at a bargain basement for five bucks; it makes the perfect novelty item for going back to those psychedelic days of flower power, bad fashions, and trashy music! Interesting note: SCREAM BABY SCREAM is also listed in Troma's film archives on the company's website. Only time will tell when this reaches the top of the Bottom 100 List along with a few more early 70s cheapies; gosh knows they NEED to!!! PLAN 9 is history!!!