Eating Miss Campbell

Right, well when I sat down to watch this 2022 horror comedy titled "Eating Miss Campbell", from writer and director Liam Regan, I didn't know that it was a Troma movie. And had I known that, I might actually have skipped on the movie entirely.

Luckily I didn't know that it was a Troma movie before I had sat down and started the movie. Thus, as the movie was already playing, I opted to give writer and director Liam Regan the benefit of the doubt. And luckily so, because "Eating Miss Campbell" was actually the best of Troma movies I have stumbled upon, not only in writing and story contents, but most certainly also in production value and most likely thus also in budget. This was actually a proper movie whereas the other Troma projects feel like home video projects.

The storyline in "Eating Miss Campbell", as written by Liam Regan, was strange and bizarre, but in an oddly dark, twisted and entertaining manner. There are just so many really far out there things taking place throughout the 84 minutes that the movie ran for. I enjoyed it and was genuinely entertained by the contents delivered by Liam Regan. However, I think that a movie such as "Eating Miss Campbell" is somewhat of a rather acquired taste and it is not one that will easily cater to everyone in the audience.

The only two performers on the cast list that I was familiar with were Laurence R. Harvey and Lloyd Kaufman himself. However, leading actress Lyndsey Craine really carried the movie quite nicely with her performance as Beth Conner.

Visually then I will say that the effects in the movie were quite good. A fair amount of visceral graphic effects, which I definitely enjoyed.

My rating of "Eating Miss Campbell" lands on a six out of ten stars.

I had high hopes for this film with Starburst Magazine saying it was a must watch but I don't know what glue they were smelling. This film is the second attempt at a feature film by Liam Regan but this is a dire attempt at a film. This being a Troma film you would expect a certain level of humour and flavour which you get with Troma films but this has chucked that out of the window for a more insulting sarcastic sense of humour. The story is about a vegan girl who keeps trying to kill herself and at the same time the school she attends has mass school shootings, this comes across in poor taste and I did notice some people actually leave the cinema I saw this at in disgust. The other big issue with this film is every frame it seems to force feed the audience with another Easter egg from a better film or tv series. I only give it 2 stars out of 10 for good costumes, makeup, Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman and Laurence R Harvey.

Director Liam Regan follows up his debut film My Bloody Banjo (track it down if you haven't seen it) with an absurd, gore filled, hilarious movie about Beth Connor - a Goth, Vegan, Cannibal who falls in love with her high school teacher and to say anymore would spoil the movie! Lyndsey Craine (Book of Monsters) is a superb lead and perfectly plays the "straight man" role in a film filled with wacky characters right out of Tromaville who are sure to delight and offend in equal measure. The supporting cast is wonderful with many familiar faces including Lawrence Harvey (Human Centipede 2) who steals every scene he's in.

I saw the movie at its world premiere at Frightfest London where everyone laughed, cheered and cringed together making this a real highlight of the festival. There are some wild gags in the film, with many characters uttering lines that had the audience in stitches and whilst some may find themselves offended by the subject matter, the jokes are well executed in the context of the film and are a testament to the bold, uncensored film that Liam committed to make.

The other thing that I must compliment is the look of the film which dazzles with a bright, colourful palette akin to an R-rated Nickelodeon show that makes the film so unique. The High School lunch served in one scene is neon green and orange slop (reminded me of the movie Hook) which contrast so well against Beth's black and drab goth look. The sharp Cinematography is complimented with dolly moves and steadicam shots which give the film an expensive, Hollywood feel whist maintaining a late 90's teen movie aesthetic, resulting in one of the best looking Troma films of recent memory.

Well worth watching with company and a few beers on movie night if you are up for some solid laughs, brilliant performances and very icky gore which goes places most horror films wouldn't even dare. A must see for fans of horror comedy and even for those who don't normally take to Troma films.

EATING MISS CAMPBELL

(Read the following in Trey Parker's voice)

Reattach that Banjo String! Liam Regan's gluttonous "sequel" to My Bloody Banjo, Eating Miss Campbell; is an intellectually crafted blood soaked 'black comedy' that mordaciously blends all that we love and hate about cliché horror comedies! And thank GAWD for that!

Liam Regan's 'Whoopsie F-in' Daisies' are in full bloom with outstanding and stellar performances from the entire cast! Lyndsey Craine and Lala Barlow shine; gothically, and fully embody the insanely clever and campy Beth Connor & Miss Campbell. Charlie Bond, Emily Haigh, Michaela Longden invoke the sins of '80s movies past' as the Heathers!! Did ya hear that gun shot?! Oh, just another school shooting.

Any rate, of course there's a Lloyd Kaufman cameo! Laurence R. Harvey is a scene stealer and Vito Trigo as the return of Mr. Sawyer adds another layer to the ever evolving mystique that is; WHOOPSIE F-in DAISEY! With James Hamer-Morton and Dani Thompson returning as well, one could say this is Liam Regan's "James Gunn Crew." Justin A. Martell and Annabella Rich are over the top, in all the right ways; as Tusk Everbone and Nancy Applegate.

Eli Roth! James Gunn! Trey Parker and Matt Stone! And now; Liam Regan! Unapologetically offensive with a social message; Eating Miss Campbell is...Bang Bang!

This is a very well executed Troma style movie shot in the UK. The cast give some great performances and the SFX are worthy of the genre. The Director clearly has had fun with this and no topic is off limits. Some great jokes about High Schools, Horror movies and American culture. Charlie Bond, James Hame Morton, Bella Rich and Dani Thomson are great. Lawrence Harvey gives a great cameo performance too. This is destined to be a cult classic. Topics such as High School shootings, Cancel Culture get a good going over. This is more sophisticated than your usual horror film. The gore levels are fantastic too.