Psycho Beach Party Nails the 60s Beach Party
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Psycho Beach Party also tries for the 50s psychodrama and 70s slasher film, but only gains mixed reviews on those elements.
Written by The Zombie Master
August 20, 2011
Movie Trailer
Release: 2000
Directed by: Robert Lee King
Written by: Charles Busch
Starring:
Lauren Ambrose as Florence “Chicklet” Forrest
Thomas Gibson as Kanaka
Nicholas Brendon as Starcat
Matt Keeslar as Lars
Beth Broderick as Mrs. Ruth Forrest
Kimberley Davies as Bettina Barnes
Charles Busch as Captain Monica Stark
Amy Adams as Marvel Ann
Per Mademoiselle magazine (quoted on the front cover of the dvd) Psycho Beach Party was supposed to be a blend of “a 50’s psychodrama, a 60’s beach movie and a 70’s slasher film.” I was intrigued. My interest was piqued. I had an extra $5 to blow.
Psycho Beach Party starts at a Drive-in where we meet Florence Forrest (Lauren Ambrose), a typical teenage girl wondering why all of the teenage girls around her are becoming more sexually aware. She and her best friend seem to be the only ones at the Drive-In that are actually watching the movie. Two very important things happen at the Drive-In however; one, we witness a teenage girl getting her throat slashed by an unseen assailant and two, we witness innocent Florence become a very not innocent alter personality that we later learn is Anne Bowen.
The next morning Florence and her
friend are being interviewed by
Captain Monica Stark (Charles Busch) about the murder. Florence doesn’t
remember anything about the night before and is scooted along by her
mother (Beth Broderick) because they have beets to pickle at home. We
also meet Lars (Matt Keeslar) a Swedish exchange student that happens
to be staying at the Forrest’s home.
Next we go to the beach where we meet the surfers led by Kanaka (Thomas Gibson) that Florence wants desperately to be a part of. Kind of sort of accepted with the nickname of Chicklet given to her, she eventually learns to surf and unwittingly introduces Kanaka to Anne. While all of this is going on teenagers are being taken out. The possible suspects seem endless as the groups prepare for a big beach party and the police try to corner the culprit. And yes, that is about it story-wise.
If you are old enough to remember the specialness of Annette
Funicello and Frankie Avalon or you know who I am talking about when I
mention Moondoggie, Gidget and the Big Kahuna, then Psycho Beach Party
is for you. It is a perfectly fun spoof of the 60’s beach movies. It
even has a Anne Margaret look-a-like dancing around during the opening
and ending credits. Charles Busch (writer and actor) took his
off-Broadway play of the same name, and did a very good job, with the
help of director Robert Lee King, of adapting it from the stage to the
screen. The collection of recognizable
actors/actresses was well done
as well. Thomas Gibson (Criminal Minds), Nicholas Brendon (Buffy the
Vampire Slayer), Beth Broderick (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Matt
Keeslar (Scream 3) but the
real star of the film is Lauren Ambrose (Six
Feet Under, Torchwood).
She played the role of the innocent “Chicklet”
and transitioned into the sexually aggressive Anne with purposeful
campy perfection.
Only one problem with Psycho Beach Party: Although it nailed the 60’s beach movie, it is only mediocre on the 50’s psychodrama and 70’s slasher film. However, if you like Rocky Horror then you should enjoy this.
Questions or comments about Psycho Beach Party? Discuss it on The Ossuary Forums!
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