Return To Nuke ‘Em High – 1.10.14
On Friday night I got to see the newest film from Troma the oldest independent film studio on the planet! I have been a huge fan of Troma and it’s founder Lloyd Kaufman since I was about 14 years old. Kaufman is the creator of the Toxic Avenger and director of such classic films as Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD, Tromeo & Juliet and the Class Of Nuke Em High. When he was profiled for the Village Voice I was lucky enough to be able to photograph him for the cover and take a tour of Troma Studios. While I was there they were casting not just one but TWO brand new Nuke Em High Films: Return To Nuke ‘Em High Part 1 & 2 and finally on Friday I got to see the first part
Return To Nuke ‘Em High actually had a special NYC premiere at the MOMA on Thursday but I had a meeting and couldn’t make it. Fortunately the film opened at Cinema Village East the next night and Lloyd and the crew were going to be there. Before the screening the film was introduced by Evan Michelson and Mike Zohn owners of Obscura Antiques and stars of the creepy reality show Oddities. They had a cameo in the film and are old school Troma fans.
Return was the first time I have seen a Troma film in a proper theater (I did see a press screening of their last film Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead) and it looked fantastic. Had everything you would expect from a Troma film: sex, violence, questionable political satire, gross practical effects, fart jokes, penis monsters and the Tromatic mix of horror and violence pioneered by Kafuman 30 years ago. Asta Paredes and Catherine Corcoran were great as the lesbian couple leads (Asta has pretty much the greatest boobs I have ever seen which is saying something considering how many boobs I see) and four cast members from the film were in a big budget corporate advertisement I just did. Normal people will not like this movie, but if you are a fan of Troma or b-horror/comedies you are going to love Return to Nuke Em High. Might be Kaufman’s best film since Terror Firmer. The movie does just stop suddenly without any real wrap up but it just makes you look forward to part two which if I know anything about Troma will be out several years from now.
After the film there was a Q&A with Lloyd, Asta Paredes and Catherine Corcoran and then we all headed over to Beauty Bar for an after party. It was great to hang out with Lloyd and his amazing wife Patty. Lloyd was a few drinks in and kissed me on the cheek and told me he would get my face tattooed on him if I got him tattooed on me. Clearly I am going to have to hold him to that.
Over all it was a great night and if you are a fan of any of this stuff you should check out the pictures. I know posting them Sunday night during an NFL playoff game and the Golden Globes isn’t exactly a good recipe for getting traffic but I am leaving town tomorrow for 10 days so it’s better to get them up now. I am headed to Vegas for the AVN Awards and to LA to shoot some babes and hang out with these guys so hopefully I will have a ton of cool photos for you while I am gone. But yeah, go look at these Tromatic photos already!
