Troma Entertainment has 40 years of low-budget history wrapped up in their name, and when they pick up an independent film for distribution, you can count on that film to be of a certain caliber. It’s not going to be the most polished film you’ll ever see. Hell, there might be no polish at all. But what you can count on is an ambitious idea executed with as much gore, nudity, and attitude as humanly possible.
Which brings us to Honky Holocaust.
Set in an alternate universe where Charles Manson’s insane “Helter Skelter” plan actually worked, writer/director Paul M McAlarney‘s anti-racism film is notable not only for creating a reverse-racist world (similar to that horrible John Travolta film, White Man’s Burden), but for the sheer number of horrifying images that would probably disgust any mainstream viewer.
If I never see maggots pouring out of a dead vagina again, I’ll be happy.
But that’s part of why Honky Holocaust is so awesome. This is a film that gives no fucks. Except about racism. Racism is bad. And it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white, Honky Holocaust has no time for your bullshit.
Before the credits ever roll we have the scenario established. In 1969, Charles Manson (Thomas Delcarpio) and his followers kick off a race war by murdering Sharon Tate etc. They then escape to an underground bunker and for the next 35 years live a subterranean life of rape and brainwashing. When Manson finally dies (he’s apparently far less fit than he is in the real world), his second-in-command, Dan Masucci (Lucas Fleming) takes over and raises Manson’s daughter Kendra (Maria Natapov).
Unfortunately, when Dan receives a vision that it’s time to leave the bunker and take over the world that those obviously inferior Negros wouldn’t be able to run, he’s in for a shock. Despite a horrible race war, things are pretty much the same as they ever were, except now black folk control everything and whites are segregated into ghetto communities rampant with drugs, prostitution, and rape.
While Dan sets off to murder the mayor of San Francisco and somehow take over the world, Kendra sneaks off on her own journey of discovery.
Sure, in the end everybody’s shooting machine guns at each other and cutting dicks off, but in the meantime, Kendra discovers that black people aren’t inferior and white people aren’t superior. Actually, she discovers that all people are shitty to each other and that you’ve got to stand with people who are good to you, regardless of race.
And then machine gun a bunch of bigots and cut a dick off or two.
I’m not going to lie to you. This is a low-budget, exploitation film that truly lives up to the Troma brand. The acting is okay, most of the time. The gore effects are laughably endearing. There is a lot of full frontal nudity and the aforementioned maggots pouring out of a dead vagina (they’re on a dead dick too, so it’s all fair). There’s not as much humor as I’d hoped, but it was great to see Punks standing up with Kendra and her multi-racial gang as they try to stop Dan from assassinating the Mayor of San Francisco. The film also drags a bit as we build up to the grand finale shootout (which, to be honest, is pretty poorly thought out and edited).
But in the end, Honky Holocaust is a valiant effort and has a pure punk aesthetic that is invigorating and exciting. You never know quite what’s going to happen next and while you know going in that a film like this isn’t going to win awards, it may just win your heart.
I can’t wait to see more from Ungovernable Films.
Now streaming on TromaNow!