Review by Josh Felty
What does an Australian movie director, two token black guys, and a group of hot scream queens have in common? They all make for a damn good stoner horror movie, that's what. And who doesn't like a good stoner flick every now and then?
Two indie horror film effects guys are assigned with finding a super-realistic severed arm and also with keeping a particularly lascivious Scotty dog away from the actresses' private parts. What follows is a gathering of several aspiring walk-on actors, two stoner gravediggers, and the sweltering gyrations of some smoking sorority girls assigned with the roles of a team of cheerleaders. There's lots of comedy that ensues in the process, complete with the typical hillbilly cemetery guard and a choreographer who looks like Mimi from The Drew Carey Show with a whip, no less.
It's safe to say this movie doesn't take itself too seriously, but really why should it? The chick who plays Monica, the sort of sniveling actual dance choreographer, seriously looks familiar and adds to the list of hot chicks in this one. She teaches the younger gals how to put soul and feeling into their dance moves. Translation: impromptu sexy dance number which leads to some sexual escapades, a la USA Up All Night. There's something about weed and sexy women in the same picture. What great horror stoner movie would be without these elements? Probably Paranormal Activity or something, I don't know.
What else could I possibly say or do to get you to watch this movie? It's really not all that concerned with plot, per se, but somehow it pulls off the buddy horror comedy thing pretty well. Lots of good angles and impeccably provocative women are sadly all this one has going for it. There's really not a grounded story under everything, more or less just different moments that prove to be amusing. Some parts of Gravestoned, in all honesty, just drag on too damn long. After a car of college friends pull up to the graveyard entrance, the hillbilly guard asks "What's with all this movie business?" It's quite an interesting little line when you think about it, especially when each one of said college kids start venturing into the dark unknowns of the cemetery.
I seriously cannot recount every moment of Gravestoned to you, faithful if not desperate readers. Part buddy stoner comedy, part softcore porn, it's really not one of those you can throw into one particular genre. One, there's not a whole lot in the way of plot that's any different from any other "college kids getting lost to zombies" horror trope that's been spoonfed to fans for the past thirty years or more. Sure there's plenty of great comedy and all, but there's a sex scene where a girl gets killed while taking a ride, that while awesome, really just regurgitates everything that's come before. As a stoner flick, it's not bad. There's some bong hits, some lazy gravediggers musing at how their job may never get done, and the expected paranoia that follows a joint or two. In conclusion, you may wanna kick back with a nice doobie and check it out. You may or may not thank me after all's said and done, I don't know.