NIGHT OF THE LIVING DORKS

Night of the Living Dorks, a surprise festival hit, gives the horror industry an enema. Cleaning out the genre's constipation, this dorky sex comedy/splatter 'coming of age' opus pokes fun at the genre, the world, and itself -- and never once succumbs to the wimpy moral posturing or decidedly unfunny antics of the last few Scary Movie efforts. In fact, besides being a demented, uproariously original attack against good taste, this flick is a condemnation of our society's current fear of anything that doesn't fit inside TV GUIDE'S accepted definition of good taste (talk about scary!). Written and directed by Mathias Dinter, this horror/comedy is precisely what it claims to be: a rude and riotous, 'take no prisoners' slap in the face to the American Idol generation, delivering its gross humor with reckless abandon -- and more than its share of intelligence -- as it lampoons several social classes, culture, and the stale dictates of 'acceptable' behaviour.

In the minimal yet enjoyable plot that drips political incorrectness and satire with blood, pus, and sex, Night of the Living Dorks sets out to offend everyone! The three biggest nerds at Frederich Neitzche High -- Konrad, Weener, and Philip -- are cultural misfits whose inability to fit in with the status quo mark them as losers. When the gang find themselves on the receiving end of a botched voodoo ceremony performed by some Goth kids (one of whom is the main character's old love interest), climaxing in a car wreck, the three friends find themselves . . . Zombies! (Never saw that coming, did ya?). What do they do with this new found curse/power? Do they seek to better control their new impulses? Do they seek to find some form of peace or understanding in this new twilight of existence? Hell no, they go looking for some hot ass and revenge!

Delivering what has to be among the more offensive, laugh-out-loud lampoon of the genre, director Dinter has lampooned not only horror conventions but, just as importantly, stripped bare to its essentials the wish fulfilment and false nostalgia inherent in the 'classroom reunion' appeal of those 80s films like Weird Science, Sixteen Candles, etc. Hormones, nudity, insecurity, class conflict -- all are meat for the grill in this splatter fest of bad taste and badder jokes. Instead of pimples and the woes of one's period, the social outcasts and geeks in this film have to contend with cannibalism, decaying body parts, and scoring with the hottest girl in class before one's meat falls off the bones. SEE body parts fixed back on by staplers! SEE the wild and reckless life - um - dead style of the walking retarted! SEE bullies tortured! SEE chicks used and abused by geeks! A full frontal assault of bad taste for a generation raised on the antics of the homicidal tikes of South Park, Night of the Living Dorks is as subversively intelligent as it is fragrantly exploitative. While its moral knocks are far from subtle, their effect is undeniable. In this it as much an attack against social intolerance and the evils of knee-jerk reactionism as it is a balls out horror comedy. Particularly effective -- and telling -- is how much of the strongest comedy is also the most painful, found not only in outrageous circumstances but in the problems and fears of the everyday outcast. This serious message is kept from over powering the film by the continual explosions of raunchy thrills and titillation. A satire and a fantasy, or perhaps a fantasy of a satire of adolescent insecurity, one thing the movie isn't is boring. Relevant and twice as funny because the events lampooned or so very tragically true on a deeper level in our society, Night of the Living Dorks may well be the Citizen Cane of horror parody.

Presented in 1.85:1 enhanced anamorphic widescreen, the visual integrity of Night of the Living Dorks is championed by a relatively clean transfer. But not too clean. This is a good thing, as a movie such as this is perhaps best seen with a memory of its low budget intact, mirroring something of the theme's dirty roughness and down-and-dirty spirit in the image. The visual quality is professional without being artificially polished, feeling all the more dangerous and effective for it. Colors are bright and effective for the most part. While grain is evident throughout, this adds to the picture's low-budget feel rather than detracting from the quality of the production. Audio is featured in Dolby Digital 5.1 in German and English Stereo 2.0. These tracks do their job effectively, pouring the insanity into your living room. Extras for this insane flesh feast include the expected Bay Theatrical Trailers, Deleted and Extra Scenes, and a 'Behind the Scenes" segment.

Review by William P. Simmons