Nudist Colony of the Dead
A 1991 horror comedy musical about vengeful nudist zombies.
In 1991, Mark Pirro—who also used the names Marky Dolittle and Marky Elfman—wrote and directed *Nudist Colony of the Dead*, a horror comedy musical shot on Super-8 film for $35,000. The story follows a group of nudists who are driven off their land by religious zealots and carry out a mass suicide. Five years later, they rise from their graves to take revenge on the bigots. The plot begins when Judge Rhinehole and his zealots shut down the "Sunny Buttocks Nudist Colony" for offending the community. The nudists enter a suicide pact, vowing to return. After five years, a group of kids is sent to the former colony, now a religious retreat. The resurrected nudist corpses then terrorize the zealots and perform big musical numbers as campers start disappearing. The cast includes Deborah Stern, Tony Cicchetti, Rachel Latt, Braddon Mendelson, Jim Bruce, Barbara Dow, Heather McPherson, Peter Napoles, Steve Wilcox, Juan Tanamera, Forrest J. Ackerman, and Dave Robinson. Filming took place in Sacramento, California. In *The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia*, academic Peter Dendle wrote that the film "isn't as wacky as it thinks it is."
- Release year
- 1991
- Director
- Mark Pirro
- Budget
- $35,000
- Format
- Super-8 film
- Genre
- horror comedy musical
- Filming location
- Sacramento, California
Lore & Background
In the film, a group of nudists is forced off their land by religious zealots, and then commits mass suicide. Five years later, the nudists rise from the grave and seek revenge against the religious bigots. The storyline follows the shutdown of 'Sunny Buttocks Nudist Colony' by Judge Rhinehole and his band of religious zealots for offending the local community. The nudists decide to protest by entering into a suicide pact, vowing to return one day to terrorize the people who took over their land. Five years later, a bunch of kids are sent to the ex-nudist colony, which has now been transformed into a religious retreat. True to their promise, the nudist corpses rise from the grave, seek revenge on the zealots who condemned them, and sing big production numbers as the campers begin to experience an attrition problem.
Reader's Guide
Nudist Colony of the Dead is a low-budget independent film that stands out for its unusual blend of horror, comedy, and musical elements, all shot on Super-8 film. Its significance lies in its status as a cult curiosity within the zombie and exploitation film genres, reflecting the DIY ethos of early 1990s independent filmmaking. The film's reception, as noted by academic Peter Dendle in The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, was tepid: '[T]his amateur summer-camp slasher spoof isn't as wacky as it thinks it is.' Despite this, the film has maintained a niche following due to its absurd premise and the involvement of genre figure Forrest J. Ackerman, who played Judge Rhinehole. Its legacy is primarily as a footnote in the history of offbeat horror comedies, remembered more for its concept than its execution.
Did You Know?
- The film was shot on Super-8 film.
- The budget for the film was $35,000.
- Forrest J. Ackerman appears in the cast as Judge Rhinehole.
- The film was shot in Sacramento, California.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Nudist Colony of the Dead?
Mark Pirro, who also worked under the aliases Marky Dolittle and Marky Elfman, wrote and directed the 1991 film. It was shot on location in Sacramento, California.
What is the plot of Nudist Colony of the Dead?
A nudist community is forcibly evicted by religious zealots led by Judge Rhinehole, and the displaced members carry out a collective suicide pact. Five years later they claw out of their graves as vengeful zombies to settle the score with the bigots who destroyed their colony.
What format and budget did Nudist Colony of the Dead use?
The entire picture was captured on Super-8 film with a production budget of just $35,000. It weaves horror, comedy, and musical numbers into that low-budget framework.
How does the story of Nudist Colony of the Dead end?
The undead nudists rise from their burial plots to exact revenge on the zealots who shut down the Sunny Buttocks Nudist Colony. The climax involves a group of kids being sent into the danger zone, where the resurrected settlers deliver their final, musical comeuppance.
Why is Nudist Colony of the Dead considered notable?
It is an extremely rare example of a horror comedy musical produced on a shoestring budget in the early 1990s. Its grainy Super-8 aesthetic and absurd premise have made it a cult curiosity among genre fans.
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