Sometimes a film delivers on everything it promises. Rickey Bird’s 2014 short Naked Zombie Girl is one such film. It has copious amounts of both zombies and naked girl – staples of the grindhouse zombie horror movie genre.
I first came across this film at Screamfest Horror Film Festival in 2014. The filmmakers had brought in a large cardboard cutout of the film’s title character and I remember the snickers from the dozens upon dozens of attendees as they posed with it on Screamfest’s iconic “black carpet” – marketing genius right there.
The film went on to rake in over thirty awards from various festivals.
The movie’s premise is simple: three ill-fated survivors flee the city amidst a zombie apocalypse. Barabara (Meghan Chadeayne) loses not only her companions but also her dress as the zombie hoard descends upon them. With only her boots and a trusty chainsaw, the Naked Zombie girl must fight her way to survival. There is no place for modesty in the zombie apocalypse.
You can watch the original short on Youtube:
Watch the trailer below:
Eight years after the original film graced the film festival circuit, audiences and teenage boys everywhere rejoiced when we received a new installment of this grindhouse classic – Naked Zombie Girl is Back. The film is not really a sequel – it is more of a re-telling of the original with additional story elements, higher quality visuals, and more elaborate special effects and gore.
Once again Barbara and her companions are on the run during a zombie apocalypse – this time with a bag of cash and being chased by a mysterious man with a gun. As Barbara loses her cohorts and her dress, she must fight off the zombie hordes and her pursuer to survive the night.
At only twelve minutes and forty-two seconds, this short keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. The on-screen kills are fun and utilize wonderful practical effects. I particularly love one scene where Barbara squishes a zombie with a car rim. Watching the zombie’s eye pop out is a nice little gory touch.
Nicole Cinaglia shines as Barbara. She appears just as comfortable sawing a zombie in half with a chainsaw as she does running through the apocalyptic landscape in the nude. Although there is little in the way of dialogue in the film (what is really worth saying to a horde of the undead?), Cinaglia conveys Barbara’s strength and determination through her body language and facial expressions. With the basic premise of a naked woman killing zombies, it could have been played as pure schlock and exploitation, but Cinaglia adds depth to the character and exudes strength and confidence, bringing female empowerment to the role.
Naked Zombie Girl is Back premiered at Screamfest Horror Film Festival on October 16th 2022. The cast and crew all came out to support the film. Be sure to check out their Facebook page for some great pictures from the event. The audience had a blast at the screening.
Overall, I highly recommend this fun grindhouse short. The company behind the film, Hectic Films, hopes that the short will attract producers and investors so they can create a feature-length film or episodic series. I would certainly love to see more of Barbara’s adventures – especially with Cinaglia in the leading role.
Learn more about Naked Zombie Girl is Back on their official pages:
Website: https://nakedzombiegirlmovie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ngzmovie
Hectic Films Website: https://hecticfilms.com/home
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