Film Review: Murderdrome (Australia 2012)

" Roller Derby sensation Cherry Skye loves nothing better than competing in her favorite sport. When Skye catches Brad's eye the sparks fly. Unfortunately, she also catches the ire of Brad's ex, her Roller Derby nemesis Hell Grazer! If that isn't bad enough, the heat generated by this romantic rivalry arouses a malevolent demon-spirit, hungry for human souls - especially Skye's! Trapped between the wrath of Hell Grazer and damnation at the Gates of Hell, she has no option but to throw down and sort this mess out the only way she knows. Welcome to the Murderdome."

  It's few films indeed that manage to create their own sub-genre. Welcome to the world's first ever Indie- Roller Derby-Slasher-Horror movie.

  "Murderdrome"  never really gets up to take-off speed, which is a shame because there are some decent moments.
  One particular bit has heroine Skye trailing the creepy-as-hell Janitor through an alley, while around her the paintwork is falling away from the walls  to reveal the menacing murals underneath. It's an understated effect that quite impressed me.
  Making the marauding slasher a female roller-derby star from hell is also a novel touch. She is legitimately disturbing, with  her "kills" tending to be short, fast and brutal. Then you get to see what's under the mask...
 The soundtrack is effective - suitably hip garage-punk at first, metal and Horror Film synths later on - the acting is more than decent and although there are a few loose ends that are never really explained, the story flows easily enough. Although if you ever wanted to know what Australian back alleys look like at 3am, great - you get to see lots of them.

   Skye and her girls are easy to like, all know how to skate and have that Aussie snarkiness going for them. Having said that, the comedy doesn't always work - it can be a bit heavy-handed  sometimes.  One character is there mainly to be random and spout her catchphrase. It doesn't work as well as expected.
  Weirdly enough, her fate is not amusing in any way, shape or form. I found it one of the most chilling moments in the film, in fact.
  
  The problem I have is this. "Murderdrome"wants to be a comedy and wants to be a horror but while you can do the two together, in this case the ingredients don't combine too well. Maybe it's because this is an Indie Comedy ramming into an Indie Horror.
 The result is a film about Roller Derby  that doesn't really have geat track scenes, a romantic comedy that isn't wildly funny and a Slasher Horror that...ok, they got those bits right but it's not exactly a seamless blend with the rest.

  I'm not saying "Murderdrome" is without merit. If you like Indie movies, you'll find something to like here.
 But I think the world will have to wait for the definitive Roller-Derby/Horror movie just a little longer.

Trailer here so you can make up your own mind.

And now, the ever popular ...Screenshots!

Cherry  Skye and arch-rival Hell-Grazer do...something.

Somebody tried to explain Roller Derby rules to me once 

and I had to run away. My head was hurting.

Hell-Grazer decides to establish her "Bitch" credentials.

In any movie this just guarantees that you're going to get humiliated later on, but in a Horror movie...yep, you're screwed honey. 

Just for fun, try and come up with your own contest for this. 

Remember, at first this film looked like a comedy.

Anybody still think that?

"Hey. Let's go poking about the creepy building."

Survivable only if you're the heroine.

"I've got to the middle of the film and I'm not dead yet. Brilliant!"

Yeah...about that..(Tchunk)...Oh never mind.

Skye tries to work what sort of film she's actually in.
  

That's all folks.