



The found footage subgenre is a common go to for filmmakers trying to produce a low budget indie horror film. The popularity of The Blair Witch Project and the Paranormal Activity franchise has resulted in an overabundance of movies being released that follows this format, resulting in a subgenre that often has become exhausted and tiresome. On top of that, the zombie subgenre has exploded as well with the likes of The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead and the countless number of zombie themed films. In both subgenres, it’s very difficult to come up with an idea that is creatively different from the rest of the pack. Writer and director Stefan Popescu has managed to deliver something that is fairly unique to both subgenres in the horror comedy Vixen Velvet’s Zombie Massacre. It’s a wildly imaginative and side splitting foray into the world of zombies that combines elements of Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Night of the Living Dead into something akin to the zombie porn version of The Office.





The story is about Vixen Velvet, a popular porn star best known for her starring role in a zombie porno. Wanting to become a respectable actor and frustrated with her career trajectory, she decides to hijack her current porn film in order to make a low budget indie zombie flick. When a real-life zombie apocalypse occurs, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to finish her film and get the best and most realistic footage possible. It begins as a found footage or documentary picture, following Vixen around in her every day life and while working on her newest porno. We are introduced to the eclectic group of characters that she works with in the porn as well as her son, whom she want's to show that she is an action hero and not a film "whore." The first act really does its best of introducing us to all of the major characters and fleshing out the story, providing us with the motivations Vixen has to ultimately finish her film during a zombie uprising. The first act is also incredibly silly and comedic, eventually turning into a full blown horror flick rife with bloody violence and gore.





Because it is a found footage picture, there isn’t anything particularly exciting about the camera work. There is a great deal of shaky camera footage that is typically expected from the subgenre. So, if attempting to watch shaky footage is an issue for you, then this won’t be for you. That being said, it does create a certain sense of authenticity to the film, even if there are some rather ridiculous moments. The score contains a mixture of whimsical and terrifying music depending on the situation, with the funny moments containing music that sounds like it could belong in the Pink Panther.









The actors all do a fine job in their respective roles. It’s what you might typically expect from a low budget indie production, but there is still a level of realsim from these quirky characters. Kathryn Foran shines as Vixen Velvet, starting out as a bad over-acting indie porn actress who eventually becomes a badass female hero fighting the zombie uprising. Nathan Bragg is the porn director Hector, who resembles an odd combination of cult director John Waters and actor Ike Barinholtz. Jimmy Gia Nguyen is the secretively gay cameraman Wolfe that conspires with Vixen to film a real zombie films. Finally, Fred Osson plays Special K, Wolfe’s mentally challenged brother who has to wear ear muffs to muffle his super-sensitive hearing.





Even though there is a decent amount of comedy in Vixen Velvet’s Zombie Massacre, there should be enough blood, gore, nudity and action to satisfy most horror fans.





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-RV



































