Watch The Gore Gore Girls

The Gore Gore Girls is a 1972 horror-comedy film, directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis, renowned as the 'Godfather of Gore.' The movie is an early example of the Slasher genre, where a killer begins to pick off individuals one by one in a gruesome manner. It tells the story of a tabloid journalist who enlists help from a sleazy private investigator to unravel the mysterious murders of go-go dancers.

The film sets the tone from the very first scene, where a man pretending to be a blind customer is shown seducing a lovely go-go dancer. But, moments later, he strikes her violently over the head, leading to a shockingly graphic and bloody murder. The private investigator, Abraham Gentry (Frank Kress), who's hired by the newspaperman to solve the strange killings, quickly becomes embroiled in a web of grisly murders that keep happening in the go-go club.

Gentry is a gruff, hard-boiled investigator, who talks to potential witnesses and women involved with the club. Meanwhile, the killer continues to take out any girl sporting a unique quality, such as an unusual nitrous oxide habit or a distinct ring left on her finger. The Gore Gore Girls doesn't shy away from the violence, with each death becoming increasingly brutal and savage than the last.

Alongside the gory killings, the movie also has some quirky comedic moments. In one scene, Gentry drives his rundown car into the ocean, only to get it off the seabed, and it kicks into life like magic. Despite the gruesome content, Lewis also pokes fun at himself and his films, with some nods and winks to his earlier work.

The Gore Gore Girls' most significant achievement is undoubtedly its blood and guts effects, which still hold up surprisingly well today. Lewis was a pioneer of using practical effects, which results in an eight-minute-long club act, and it's a fascinating watch, including the 'burst pillow' effect, a trick where the killer viciously stabs a woman in her cleavage, only for two pillows containing fake blood to explode. In a time before CGI, practical effects were central to creating movies like this, and watching the scene is genuinely impressive.

In the acting department, Frank Kress is the movie's standout, who provides a dry delivery to the detective's witty one-liners. His approach is often at odds with the gruesome murders he's investigating. Meanwhile, Hedda Lubin, who plays Adult Film Actress Candy, brings a different dynamic to the film; her character is initially portrayed as a typical ditzy blonde, but she has a peculiar twist that audience members will undoubtedly find amusing.

Overall, The Gore Gore Girls is an excellent film for lovers of horror-comedy that features prime examples of blood and gore effects. Quirky characters and comedic relief balance out the gruesome murders with a crucial question at its core: who is the killer? Even by today's standards, the film is still an entertaining and compelling watch. Those who enjoy horror films and have a strong stomach will undoubtedly enjoy this cult classic.

The Gore Gore Girls is a 1972 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1.