Powertool Cheerleaders vs the Boyband of the Screeching Dead

POWERTOOL CHEERLEADERS VS THE BOYBAND OF THE SCREECHING DEAD is the latest indie horror comedy from British filmmaker Pat Higgins, the man responsible for STRIPPERS VS WEREWOLVES (although don't hold that against him). I recently saw a talk given by Higgins about the art of filmmaking and I can report that he comes across as a likeable and charismatic individual, but my opinion of his films is far lower. This one's better than some of his earlier work, feeling more professional, with neat effects, solid transitions and a semi-decent script; even better, it has a series of musical numbers which aren't at all bad. Sadly, the horror content is too limited for this to work very well, and in the end it can't overcome the usual budgetary constraints of the genre.

When a cursed amulet transforms their rival boy band into a screeching horde of undead, a spirited group of cheerleaders must use their wits, friendship, and a wild arsenal of power tools to survive a talent show gone apocalyptic. This award-winning festival favorite is a horror-musical-comedy mashup that's as inventive as it is entertaining.

Written and directed by the talented Pat Higgins and starring the charismatic Charlie Bond, this film is a love letter to creativity and genre-bending cinema. Equal parts musical, apocalyptic action, and cheerleader vs. Boy band showdown, it also delivers a healthy dose of comedy. While the "zombies" in question defy traditional labels, their antics provide a hilariously chaotic twist on the undead genre.

With its vibrant colors, fast-paced thrills, and clever moments of fourth-wall breaking, this is a film designed to put you in a great mood. Grab some popcorn (and maybe some chocolate), settle in, and prepare for a ride full of surprises. It's best experienced firsthand-spoiler-free-for maximum impact.

A must-watch for fans of quirky, energetic storytelling with a lot of heart!

Struggling with a crippling phobia, a woman decides to go on a reality show designed to exploit the fear so that she can help overcome it, but when the experience turns into a zombie outbreak following a sacred ritual must bring her group together to stave off the undead hordes involved.

Overall, this was a fantastic entry with so much to enjoy about it. One of the better features of this one is the fantastic setup that provides this one with a far more heartwarming tale than expected. The initial reason to get the band of women together as cheerleaders and go on the show due to her phobia of the profession following the stories she's been told about the grandmother that torments her into this situation makes for a fun and immensely cheesy set up to bring the group together for the show. With enough background work to showcase the group coming together and bonding over their professional ambitions the further they go in the competition which also manages to include some fun sidestories in their interactions with the other contestants. Outside of this, the film's sense of fun that comes about before and after the amulet comes into play releasing the zombie outbreak is immensely fun. Since the cheerleaders have spent as much as they have getting bonded together, the plight they share makes for a fun enough time here as the series of zombification of the opposing band spreads throughout the area turning everyone they come across into creatures just like them leading to encounters at the remote garage studio or the hysterical encounter at the cabin they're rehearsing at which has some bizarre concepts alongside several insanely funny musical numbers that add a fantastically cheesy atmosphere to everything. This all leads nicely into the wild finale where the various storylines turn into a lot of fun encounters with the big musical numbers matching the zany action featuring the ability to come together and stop the rampaging zombies in a slew of zany encounters and bloodshed. These all come together to provide a lot to like here although there are a few slight issues bringing this down. The main factor with the film is that it spends so much time getting to the finale where the zombies run wild that it can run a little longer getting to the more genre-focused material. Going through the bonding with the team, the interactions with the boyband trying to sabotage their rehearsals, and the other backstage politics that carry on with the competition that it can feel a bit too long in this part before getting to the zombie action which could be a factor that turns off some. Other issues, like the musical nature of the film which might not be appealing for all, and the low-budget origins found here, but these are just personal preference factors and not truly detrimental.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

This is one of those amazing films where you wonder (in a good way) what am I watching? This is a genre bending delight. The film is well written with some lovely one-liners and funny insights. The plot revolves around a TV talent contest with the competition including a cheerleader group and a boy band. The musical numbers are catchy and inspired. My favourite number was "I am just a guy dying on the floor". Please watch if you get a chance as I was lucky enough to catch this at the World Premiere in London. Funny, original and imaginative. Charlie Bond and James Hamer-Morton are great as the leads and are well supported by a strong cast.

Powertool Cheerleaders vs The Boyband of the Screeching Dead is an indie horror-comedy-musical that's as wild as its title suggests. It follows waitress Emily, who must overcome her fear of cheerleaders to lead a misfit squad in a TV talent show. Things go haywire when a cursed talisman turns their boyband rivals into zombies, forcing the girls to use friendship and power tools to survive. The film is packed with self-aware humor, catchy but campy songs, and practical effects that shine on a budget. It's chaotic, clever, and wonderfully trashy, with fourth-wall-breaking antics and meta references. A love letter to Troma-style horror and a fun, bloody romp for those who enjoy campy musicals with a twist.