'Deadgirl' review

A nasty concept is nice, but then you gotta do something with it

By Matt Pais

Posted July 23, 2009

Metromix

Wandering around an abandoned mental hospital isn't exactly a walk in the park when social outcasts Rickie (Shiloh Fernandez) and JT (Noah Segan) discover a naked girl (Jenny Spain) chained to a table. Rickie wants to save her and JT wants to use her as a sex slave, an intention that is only reinforced—and only distances the longtime best friends further—upon discovering that the girl is an undead zombie.

The buzz: Nothing like a story of teen angst spiced up with a little necrophilia. That's not much of a morally ambiguous situation, but this special effects-free horror flick does, at least, have a chance at achieving more realism than the usual splatterfest.

The verdict: "Deadgirl" reaps a sense of substantial, twisted alienation from its dark, dingy hospital setting, amplified by the unsettling peer pressure that motivates some classmates to take part in JT's disturbing agenda. Yet "Deadgirl" neither lets the scares boil over nor offers a new view of stereotypical high school jocks and losers. With characters this one-dimensional and a plot that neither zigs nor zags, the movie feels as confined and limited as its demonic subject.

Did you know? JT notes that he'd rather deal with angry cops than angry dogs. Kid, just keep a T-bone steak on you at all times and you're prepared to fend off either one.

["Deadgirl" has special midnight screenings July 24-25 in select cities. Check the official site for locations.]