“Return to Nuke’em High Vol 1” is the latest
from Troma president and creator of “The Toxic Avenger” Lloyd Kaufman, who has
directed some crazy and entertaining films like “Tromeo and Juliet”, “Terror
Firmer” and “Poultrygeist”.
The film takes place at Tromaville High School where Chrissy
(Asia Paredes), a high school blogger falls in love with Lauren (Catherine Corcoran),
the new rich girl at school. Meanwhile, an organic food company that was built
over the ashes of the Tromaville nuclear power plant is selling containment
food to the high school. The food starts turning the smart people of the high
school into mutant and rebellious cretins. Now, the two must solve what cause
these mutations and save the high school from these cretins.
It’s always amazing that every time I watch a Lloyd Kaufman
film, I always have a fun time. Whether
it’s the zany characters that appears in his films to the over the top
violence, I never get tired of it. It was the same case with “Return to Nuke’em
High Vol 1”, as I had a great time with this film.
Co-writer and director Lloyd Kaufman does a very good job
with the film’s direction. What makes his direction work, he handles and
balances the film’s humor and horror elements. Kaufman does a very making the
humor funny. Whether it’s the raunchy gags to the some of the film’s laugh out
loud moments, everything comes off as funny and entertaining. The other thing
that I was impressed was the way that he uses the film’s gore and slime effects
to his advantage. I thought that aspect looked a lot better than in previous
Kaufman films. Everything comes off looking very good on screen and it helps
drive the horror aspects of the film as it comes off as horrific.
The acting was over the top but it works very well with the
film’s story. Kaufman does a very good job making sure that his cast has
chemistry with each other. He takes his time and makes sure the performances
gel very well. It helps with a film like this, as I was interested in the
characters and all of the happenings that went on during the course of the
film. It made the film very entertaining
and fun.
The screenplay written by Kaufman, Travis Campbell and Derek
Dressler does a very good job making sure that the screenplay has what you
would expect in a Troma film. One of the things that I liked about the
screenplay was the fact that the humor was funny. The writers did a very good
job making sure the humor works with the story. Whether it’s the way the
characters look to some of the film’s dialogue and gags, there were a lot of
laughs in them and those scenes. They also did a very good job making sure the
characters have certain traits to them. The traits in the characters is what
helped made the characters work. Whether it’s the main character to some of the
cretins, they had personality to them. It helps makes all the zany action works
during the course of the film.
“Return to Nuke’em High Vol 1” is a very fun and crazy horror
film that leaves you wanting more. Can’t wait to see how part 2 shapes up.
Review Rating: Four Stars.
