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Killer Barbys
Media Blasters // Unrated // August 1, 2002
List Price: $24.95 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie
I've often wondered what it would be like if the gang from "Josie and the Pussycats" (the cartoon, not the live-action film) wound up in a story which combined elements of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and the legend of Countess Bathory. OK, so I've never thought of anything even close to that, but apparently Spanish cult-film director Jess Franco has, and thus we have the very bizarre film "Killer Barbys", which comes to DVD by way of Media Blasters.
The Killer Barbies (Note the spelling difference from the title. I'm thinking that somebody didn't want to get sued.) are a power-punk band led by sexy singer Flavia (Silvia Superstar). The group is on their way to a gig when their mini-van breaks down. (Which doesn't stop two band-members from having sex.) Heeding the advice of creepy butler Arkan (Aldo Sambrell), the group seeks refuge in the castle of Countess Olga Luchan (Mariangela Giordano). The band only wants a place to stay for the night, but the Countess has other plans. She is actually over 100 years old and lives off of the blood of the young. The Killer Barbies don't know it yet, but they are to be the Countess' next meal.
To say that "Killery Barbys" is an odd film would be a vast understatement. On the one hand, it plays like an episode of "The Monkees", as we have a silly, over-the-top band who gets involved in a odd adventure. The band members search the mansion and recoil in horror at its odd inhabitants. But, on the other hand, the movie is filled with sex and violence -- coming off as oddly unbalanced next to the almost absurd nature of the rest of the movie. But, that's Jess Franco for you.
"Killer Barbys" really isn't a bad movie (although, relatively speaking, it's a really bad movie). The problem with the film is that it simply doesn't know what it wants to be. (As if you couldn't guess that from the above description.) The film offers some mildly gory violence, some mild sex, and little else. The movie is never very scary, funny, or suspenseful. But, there is something mesmerizing about it. Franco is known for making his movies quickly and on the cheap, and "Killer Barbys" appears to uphold that tradition. (Although, it is shot on film. The only other Franco film that I've had the pleasure of seeing "Lust for Frankenstein" was shot on video.) The story here is wafer-thin, and there is zero character development. At times, the movie almost has a documentary feel -- that is, no one seems to know what they are supposed to be doing.
But, like a train wreck, there is something hypnotic about it. The band members certainly have an interesting look, and appear to be up for anything. As with many Eurohorror films, the locations are nice as well. If nothing else, the movie is fun for its eccentricities. "Killer Barbys" features two murdering midgets who appear to play soccer with a body part. One of the band members is French, but he speaks English while everyone else speaks Spanish. (What's up with that?) (SPOILER) And any movie where a man can't outrun a steam-roller must be seen to be believed. (END SPOILER)
If nothing else, the musical number which opens the film, a track called "Love Killer", is a really catchy tune.
Video
With this DVD, "Killer Barbys" is presented in a non-anamorphic transfer, and is letterboxed at 1.85:1. The image is clear, showing little grain, but it is very soft at times, creating great halos around any light source. The image shows some minor defects from the source print. Although much of the film takes place in dark spaces, the colors are good, most notably the reds, which are represented by the blood and Silvia Superstar's hair.
Audio
This DVD offers two audio tracks -- the original Spanish track, or an English dubbed track. Both are presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. The English track displays some hissing and is a bit tinny. The Spanish track does not contain this hiss and the sound is fuller. Both tracks offer clear dialogue, with no distortion. Also, each track does a fine job of recreating the "Barbies" music.
Extras
The true highlight of this DVD are the fun extras that it contains. We start with talent biographies for the band, the actors, and those involved behind the camera. Next up is a 13-minute interview with band members Silvia Superstar and Billy King, in which they discuss their music, their love for movies, the making of "Killer Barbys" and their plans for the future. This is followed by "Barb Wire Barbies", a text essay about the film. The best extras are two music videos -- "They Came From Mars" and a cover of Petula Clark's seminal hit "Downtown". These vids show Superstar in action and they are loads of fun. There is a still gallery with 8 lobby cards. And finally, we have a pseudo audio commentary, as the band comments on 20-minutes of selected scenes from the film. This is entertaining, but it can be hard to understand the talk at times due to the Spanish accents.
Those who enjoy the weird and the wild should love "Killer Barbys". The film's blending of genres makes it unclassifiable, and at times, nearly unwatchable, but it's all in good fun. And I understand that a sequel "Killer Barbys vs. Dracula" has been made. I can't wait.
I've often wondered what it would be like if the gang from "Josie and the Pussycats" (the cartoon, not the live-action film) wound up in a story which combined elements of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and the legend of Countess Bathory. OK, so I've never thought of anything even close to that, but apparently Spanish cult-film director Jess Franco has, and thus we have the very bizarre film "Killer Barbys", which comes to DVD by way of Media Blasters.
The Killer Barbies (Note the spelling difference from the title. I'm thinking that somebody didn't want to get sued.) are a power-punk band led by sexy singer Flavia (Silvia Superstar). The group is on their way to a gig when their mini-van breaks down. (Which doesn't stop two band-members from having sex.) Heeding the advice of creepy butler Arkan (Aldo Sambrell), the group seeks refuge in the castle of Countess Olga Luchan (Mariangela Giordano). The band only wants a place to stay for the night, but the Countess has other plans. She is actually over 100 years old and lives off of the blood of the young. The Killer Barbies don't know it yet, but they are to be the Countess' next meal.
To say that "Killery Barbys" is an odd film would be a vast understatement. On the one hand, it plays like an episode of "The Monkees", as we have a silly, over-the-top band who gets involved in a odd adventure. The band members search the mansion and recoil in horror at its odd inhabitants. But, on the other hand, the movie is filled with sex and violence -- coming off as oddly unbalanced next to the almost absurd nature of the rest of the movie. But, that's Jess Franco for you.
"Killer Barbys" really isn't a bad movie (although, relatively speaking, it's a really bad movie). The problem with the film is that it simply doesn't know what it wants to be. (As if you couldn't guess that from the above description.) The film offers some mildly gory violence, some mild sex, and little else. The movie is never very scary, funny, or suspenseful. But, there is something mesmerizing about it. Franco is known for making his movies quickly and on the cheap, and "Killer Barbys" appears to uphold that tradition. (Although, it is shot on film. The only other Franco film that I've had the pleasure of seeing "Lust for Frankenstein" was shot on video.) The story here is wafer-thin, and there is zero character development. At times, the movie almost has a documentary feel -- that is, no one seems to know what they are supposed to be doing.
But, like a train wreck, there is something hypnotic about it. The band members certainly have an interesting look, and appear to be up for anything. As with many Eurohorror films, the locations are nice as well. If nothing else, the movie is fun for its eccentricities. "Killer Barbys" features two murdering midgets who appear to play soccer with a body part. One of the band members is French, but he speaks English while everyone else speaks Spanish. (What's up with that?) (SPOILER) And any movie where a man can't outrun a steam-roller must be seen to be believed. (END SPOILER)
If nothing else, the musical number which opens the film, a track called "Love Killer", is a really catchy tune.
Video
With this DVD, "Killer Barbys" is presented in a non-anamorphic transfer, and is letterboxed at 1.85:1. The image is clear, showing little grain, but it is very soft at times, creating great halos around any light source. The image shows some minor defects from the source print. Although much of the film takes place in dark spaces, the colors are good, most notably the reds, which are represented by the blood and Silvia Superstar's hair.
Audio
This DVD offers two audio tracks -- the original Spanish track, or an English dubbed track. Both are presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. The English track displays some hissing and is a bit tinny. The Spanish track does not contain this hiss and the sound is fuller. Both tracks offer clear dialogue, with no distortion. Also, each track does a fine job of recreating the "Barbies" music.
Extras
The true highlight of this DVD are the fun extras that it contains. We start with talent biographies for the band, the actors, and those involved behind the camera. Next up is a 13-minute interview with band members Silvia Superstar and Billy King, in which they discuss their music, their love for movies, the making of "Killer Barbys" and their plans for the future. This is followed by "Barb Wire Barbies", a text essay about the film. The best extras are two music videos -- "They Came From Mars" and a cover of Petula Clark's seminal hit "Downtown". These vids show Superstar in action and they are loads of fun. There is a still gallery with 8 lobby cards. And finally, we have a pseudo audio commentary, as the band comments on 20-minutes of selected scenes from the film. This is entertaining, but it can be hard to understand the talk at times due to the Spanish accents.
Those who enjoy the weird and the wild should love "Killer Barbys". The film's blending of genres makes it unclassifiable, and at times, nearly unwatchable, but it's all in good fun. And I understand that a sequel "Killer Barbys vs. Dracula" has been made. I can't wait.
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