Bitch Slap!
With the success of exploitation mish-mashes Grindhouse and Doomsday (well, they were successful in my little world) this stylishly shot updating of the Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill! ‘big-tits-and-sexy-violence’ grrrrl-power flicks of the 1960s (Which we also love, see Movie Club Podcast #6) is hitting my guilty pleasure button mightily. The question is: will Bitch Slap be clever or pandering?
Or does the key audience care?
While I almost feel like I am watching a super-slick ultra-polished version of Faster Pussycat (note the strange camera angle in the above still, a staple of Russ Meyer’s Trash-terpiece) here is hoping that director Rick Jacobson is not limited to just injecting Michael Bay-isms and modern speed-ramp cinematography into the mix, which this trailer implies. Movies Online (the source of this trailer) also has a review up. They indicate there is a little bit of the old Memento reverse narrative thing going on in there as well as a sampler of pop philosophy.
What makes “Bitch Slap” different is a “B” Story device that runs throughout the film to illuminate character, backstory and relationship histories not previously revealed. Like the movie “Momento,” [sic] these scene flashbacks take place in reverse; so by the end of the film, the audience has a wholly different take on who these women are and why they are behaving so badly. “Bitch Slap” also employs a mysterious Female Narrator who comments periodically on the folly of humanity, the plight of the human condition and the vagaries of life and love through quoting the likes of Dostoevsky, T.S. Eliot, Sun Tzu and even Buddha. Bet you never heard THAT in “Jailbait Babysitter!”
The cast includes Raimi-TV regulars Lucy “Xena” Lawless and Kevin “Hercules” Sorbo, and the stunts are handled by Zoe Bell (who does not seem to be significantly in front of the camera this time, despite the success of her starring turn in Deathproof).
THIS IS YOUR CLEAVAGE WARNING BEFORE YOU HIT PLAY!
Oh, and Cinematical has lots of photos.
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GLORIOUS
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 22, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
That looks atrocious. I could not imagine sitting through that. It’s like the 90s never happened and we’re getting all those bad Tarantino rip offs like “2 Days in the Valley” all over again, except now they’re even more self aware and full of shit than ever before.
Don’t get me wrong. I love me some cleavage but that trailer looks like someone took Spike Jonze’s Flashing Lights video and turned it into a feature length film.
Ick.
Comment by Agent Orange — July 22, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
I was going to comment that maybe marriage had made you sheltered but I see the cleavage comment and breathe a sigh of relief. I’m not sure I agree. Yeah, it looks budget bu oh so much fun.
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 22, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
Other than the cleavage, I can’t compare this to Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill! in the slightest. Maybe if I heard a line, word, or a breath of dialogue that reminds me of the trashy classic, then maybe. Movies like this on HD bother me in a way. Everything looks way too clean when it should be dirty.
Comment by Primal — July 22, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
I know what you mean Primal! If I had at least heard some “on purpose” amateur delivery I may have been inclined to get on board but I don’t know with this one. Plus the name… “Bitch Slap?” I don’t know, reeks of try-hard.
However, I’ve been known to eat my own words (even enjoying the taste) so we’ll have to wait and see.
Oh yeah, and since I respect your taste Marina I’ll lay off this one for now. Of course, you’re right - if my wife had anything to say about it I’d probably watch much less nihilistic horror and way more Italian neo-realism heh. Luckily I like L’Aventura. God… we’re so Canadian.
Comment by Agent Orange — July 22, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
I now have a new most anticipated picture of 2008. This looks like all the whispers of awesomeness.
Comment by Andrew James — July 23, 2008 @ 8:46 am