Making a comedy into a horror flick that features five hot teen seniors and some cool football dudes isn’t a walk in the park for any director, but Chris Sivertson and Lucky McKee pull it off with their newest flick All Cheerleaders Die. Now on Blu-ray/DVD for your very own personal use, this thriller’s ripe for a guys or gals get-together. If you are a fright fiend and get your kicks from a guts and gore fest, then run out and get a copy of this tongue in cheek chiller of a killer.
The story centers on Maddy Killian (Caitlin Stasey) a senior at Blackfoot High School who has been interviewing cheerleaders with her video cam. During a practice she just finishes chatting with her friend Alexis (Felisha Cooper) when the girl decides to show off for Maddy’s camera by being flung high in the air by the male cheer squad. When she starts her downward fall, the squad misses the catch and she falls to her death. In shock Maddy finds herself in remorse over Alexis’ death.
Soon after her funeral Maddy tries out for Alexis’ position on the team and she gets accepted. Cheer team leaders Tracy (Brooke Butler), Hanna Popkin (Amanda Grace Cooper) and Martha Popkin (Reanin Johannink) are thrilled that Maddy has finally decided to join their click. A loner student Leena Miller (Sianoa Smit-McPhee) who has been studying witchcraft has a crush on Maddy and tries to warn her that she is opening herself to trouble by joining the team.
At a riverside pep rally, the cheer squad has been having a great time drinking. From afar Leena has been observing the frivolity and casting her magical stones to read Maddy’s signs. When the girls leave the party due to an argument with Terry Stankus (Tom Williamson) captain of the football team and get run off a cliff, Leena pulls them from a river and brings them back to life. So begins the tale of the wicked, witchery and blood craving ghouls that will end in terror and revenge.
The film plays out showing the results of Leena’s magical powers to raise the dead and their thirst for blood. Directors and writers of this yarn about blood sucking teens Chris Sivertson and Lucky McKee put their actors through their paces creating a very chilling movie. Balancing just the right amount of CGI with live action performances, the gory play should have even the most jaded horror fans sickened from the ghoulish feast.
But wait, this is supposed to be a comedy, right? That’s what’s on the box. “Sexy, campy, funny, subversive, angsty and, most importantly, fun” says the Hollywood Reporter. Well I wouldn’t call Carrie a comedy, and actually this little flick can hardly be labeled one, maybe absurd. It’s more of a chiller with disbelief that makes one want to laugh so not to be totally repulsed. Well anyway the bloodthirsty girls are a bit wacky and amusing so I guess that counts for something.
The acting is actually pretty good with Sianoa Smit-McPhee doing a great job of bringing Leena the witch to life. Her role is the pivotal point with which all the action revolves. She discovers she can bring the cheerleaders back to life and has them eating out of her hand, literally. Her lesbian tendencies are out of control wanting Maddy a mate, so much so she names her new cat after her. She’s an outcast among her peers and finds herself using her new ‘puppets’ to do her hideous bidding.
All Cheerleaders Die has not been rated by the MPAA but contains nudity, sexual situations, gore, language, teen drinking, drug use and extreme violence. Be cautious with the Blu-ray or DVD that it doesn’t get in the hands of immature children as it has many scenes that are inappropriate for adolescents.
The Blu-ray has a special feature called “Making the Squad” featurette that goes through the making of the movie.
Specifications and additional film information:
- Cast: Caitlin Stasey, Sianoa Smit-McPhee, Brooke Butler, Amanda Grace Cooper, Reanin Johannink , Tom Williamson, Jordan Wilson, Leigh Parker, Chris Petrovski and Felisha Cooper
- Directors: Chris Sivertson, Lucky McKee
- MPAA Rating: Unrated, contains Nudity, Sexual Situations, Language, Teen Drinking, Drug Use, Gore
- Genre: Comedy, Horror, Thriller
- Running Time:1 hr 29 min
- Video Release Date: July 22, 2014
- Original Film Release Date: May 8, 2014
- Language: English
- Format: Blu-ray/DVD
- Audio: Blu-ray- DTS HD Master Audio 5.1, DVD- Dolby Digital 5.1
- Video: 16X9, Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
- Subtitles: English SDH
- Number of Discs: 1 Disc
- Distributed by: RLJ Entertainment
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
