Earth Day

There are many times while watching EARTH DAY that you have to wonder what this movie is really trying to be. Is it a gross-out horror/comedy in the vein of the Troma films? Is it an homage to films like APRIL FOOLS DAY (which you could surmise even from the similarities in their cover art)? Or is it trying to be the ubiquitous 80′s slasher ala FRIDAY THE 13th? The answer is a little of each. The only thing that can be said is, it’s not very good. It’s hard to tell whether or not you should even take this film seriously as even the director goes by the pseudonym Mister Ooh-La-La. You have to wonder that if someone wouldn’t even put their real name on this project, should we infer that it’s a disappointment?

Let’s start at the beginning. The story of this film is trite to begin with, but easily forgivable considering the realm in which they’re working. APRIL FOOL’S DAY and others of that ilk weren’t exactly working with Oscar Wilde-like wit either, but there was something that these films had that EARTH DAY doesn’t, and that’s a cast that could pull off the dialogue. A bit of amnesty is given in this regard only because most of the actors/actresses are first-timers. There is something about seeing a movie like this though, even with the lackluster acting, choppy editing, and dubious special effects, that gives you the impression that this film was finished on pure passion from the cast and crew.

The camera shots for the most part aren’t THAT bad, evoking a TROLL 2 feeling, but some of the effects and transitions take the audience right out of the plot immediately. The sound design is actually a little better than some other movies I’ve seen of this budget and crew experience range, so kudos should be given there. This film definitely doesn’t have “cult classic” stamped on it anywhere, but it could be a fun midnight popcorn flick that you put on by accident, or a welcome background distraction while you’re doing something else.