I don't know why it took me so long to get around
to watching this movie, it contains every element that someone like me could
possibly ever want in a movie. Boobs, gore, 80's metal, big hair, boobs and
Traci Lords. Obviously filmed on a tiny budget, mostly at someone's house, it
seems just a tad below your average 80's slice and dice flick in production
values and acting, while still managing to remain a smidgeon above Troma. Just a
smidgeon though.
The film starts out with a depressingly bad cheesy not-so-rock band looking for
a guitarist. The singer of the band really reminded me of Richard Simmons, and
for someone trying to maintain a rock bad boy image, Id say that's a really bad
thing. I think it was the hair and the lycra. Or perhaps the sweatbands. Anyhow,
said band has a showcase coming up, and need a guitarist asap. After exhausting
their supply of no talent losers, one of them recalls a guy living in their
uncles trailer park who plays guitar. That guy happens to be the biggest dork
that ever lived - Martin.
Martin works at the local pizza place and dreams of being a rock star. I'm sure
he'd be a great rock star if he wasn't lanky, dorky and ugly, and if he didn't
completely suck at guitar. Needless to say there are plenty of laughs at his
expense at the audition and poor Martin is crushed. But when he meets a strange
voodoo lady on his way home, all that is about to change.
Martin makes a deal with the Devil, who turns him into the greatest guitar
player that ever lived. With his new rock star persona he gets all that comes
with it. A big house, three tonnes of pvc, a spa and all the rock sluts he can
handle. Well, three rock sluts at least. Martin, under his new name of Angel,
goes back to audition for the crappy band and blows them all away with his
supreme satanic guitar playing skills. Cocky Angel begins to forget his days as
Martin the dork and starts to take over the band, much to bassist Greg's
annoyance. Angel doesn't care too much about what Greg thinks, but he has the
hots for his fiancé Lindsay.
Trouble starts when Angel learns that his little deal comes with a terrible
price. Regular food and drink turns toxic in his system and he must now feast on
human souls in order to stay alive.
This movie was cheesy and fantastic for all the right reasons, but something
still feels like it missed the mark. It was a great and simple idea but (perhaps
due to budget restraints) feels very closed in. The plot had potential to be
very big but feels held back. Also I found it strange to feel compassion for
Martin/Angel in the beginning to dislike, back to compassion and finally dislike
again. I had no idea what I was meant to be feeling about any of the characters.
But who here likes thinking anyway? Not me! Man Traci Lords is so damn hot.
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Year: 1991
