As you can imagine, I was drawn to this film by its title alone. As a fan of John Carpenter’s They Live, I wanted to see Rowdy Roddy Piper’s other ’88 foray into moviedom. Thing is, it’s kind of hard to find in any proper version, but as this timely review may indicate, this has changed with a limited run of the film on Blu-ray.
Here’s the pitch: the world has been nuked to oblivion creating a vast wasteland, wiping out 60% of the male population and leaving nearly everybody else infertile. The fallout also created frog mutants who have hostile to humans since their creation. Sam Hell (Piper) is pulled in for a bit of friendly questioning and torture after it transpires he sexually assaulted a girl. However, the girl changes her story after she finds out she’s pregnant. After some tests, it turns out Hell is super-fertile and so the Med Tech wing of the government gives him a choice: face punishment for his various crimes or strap on a government mandated chastity belt (complete with inbuilt anti-escape measures and a goddamn bomb) and get shipped out to Frogtown to rescue some captured, fertile women and impregnate them, ensuring more mewling babies to bolster humanity’s dwindling numbers. If that doesn’t sell you on the film, I don’t know what will.
The story is campy as hell but incredibly enjoyable. It’s a bonkers idea and the film is just unhinged enough to make it work. Roddy Piper is a charming presence, I’ve liked him since his wrestling days, but he’s definitely got charisma. He’s not the greatest actor in the world, but he’s got a certain something about him that makes him an enjoyable watch. Sandhal Bergman plays Spangle, a Med Tech employee who is assigned to Hell to ensure he holds up his end of the contract. She also plays her role well and is genuinely likeable. Special mentions go to Rory Calhoun (who is always standing and walking) as the grizzled Looney Tunes and Nicholas Worth as Commander Toady’s second in command, Bull. Seriously, Bull is the best part of the film. Worth’s insane performance underneath a shoddy frog costume shines through. He hams it up like there’s no tomorrow and every scene with him is a highlight.
Like most films of its ilk, it’s not the best thought-out film ever. Frogtown is built up like this insanely violent and dangerous place, but the residents seem to regard our gang as unsavoury rather than react with outright hostility- sort of like a “we don’t like your type around here” type deal. Also, it has to be said that the film has some troubling elements. Hell is a rapist (among other things) and gets hauled in at the beginning for it. There’s a scene later on where the gang come across an escapee from Frogtown, who is initially resistant and traumatised by her experiences. Spangle injects her with some super-hormone and soon she’s writhing and cooing sexually. Hell impregnates her and in the next scene, she’s all hugs and kisses, grateful for the bun in her oven. Seeing that typed in harsh black and white may make it seem like a complete dealbreaker on whether you watch the film or not, but I think it’s just a lack of much needed care and sensitivity on the filmmakers’ part rather than anything sinister. The film is a goofy knockabout laugh, but that scene in particular feels off and misjudged.
Hell Comes to Frogtown is a true blue B movie. It’s incredibly rough around the edges and downright bad in places, but it believes in its central premise so much, it’s hard not to get swept alone for the ride. It whips along at a fast pace and has so many bizarro moments and funny scenes, you’ll never be left bored. Seeing Roddy Piper punch massive frogs in the face is worth the price of admission alone, but there’s actually attempts at proper characterisation and story. I say “attempts” because the film is mostly happy with gadabout gags and frog violence, but it occasionally halts to give us some backstory into Sam’s life. I could have done with either more of this or having the film forget about this altogether.
Arrow Films sent me both Hellgate and Hell Comes to Frogtown and they make an awesome double bill (although definitely watch Hellgate first as Frogtown is vastly superior). If you can get on board with all its nonsense and flaws, Hell Comes to Frogtown is a barrel of laughs and a legitimately decent and fun B movie. Recommended.
[rating=3]
Ben Browne
Genre:
Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy
BD Release Date:
3rd February 2013 (UK)
Distributor:
Arrow Video
Rating:
15
Director:
Donald G. Jackson, R.J. Kizer
Cast:
roddy piper,Julius LeFlore, RCB, Sandahl Bergman
Buy: Hell Comes to Frogtown [Dual Format DVD & Blu-ray]
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