Hell Comes to Frogtown / Shudder/ Joe Bob's Drive-In

Last Saturday early morning (I was up late Friday and couldn't sleep, so I cruised about Shudder's selection and decided on something silly among the available Joe Bob choices) I finally watched Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988). I knew of its reputation, and admittedly, the expectations for what I would get were already tainted. And yet, if I'm truthful, this had me equally rolling my eyes and grinning ear to ear. Those who made the film wisely shot it not to be taken seriously. Roddy Piper, in the same year he'd make the career-defining John Carpenter classic, They Live, was the star of Hell Comes to Frogtown as a highly demanded man in a post-nuclear fallout future whose sperm count is highly sought after to repopulate the land! There are Frogmen and Frogwomen thanks to the nuclear fallout, as well as, a security force led by William Smith (exploitation and 70s television and film heavy), eventually tangling with Roddy during the film. For its limited budget, I was personally quite impressed with the frogheads and makeup for those who portrayed the frog people in Frogtown. But the film is also quite involved in Piper and Sandahl Bergman's sexually tense ups and downs, arguments, and roller coaster journey across the land, a signed contract specifying that Piper's pecker is property in exchange for no jail time for "scavenging", much to the chagrin of Smith who wanted to bust him and throw him in the slammer. They even lock a device on Piper to assure his inability to renege on the deal. And if Piper tries to break away from Bergman and gunwoman, Cec Verrell, the device beeps, causes him agony, and is set to go off! I really liked the location shooting. A lot of desolate landscape and sun. The Frogtown is appropriately industrial, poor, rustbelt, and aesthetically dreary. Rory Calhoun as Roddy's old miner buddy is a welcome addition to the cast, even helping him out when Commander Toty and Bull make life difficult for our heroes. Bergman's Dance of the Three Snakes is often mentioned as a highlight, and I can't disagree with it. Despite not being naked in the film, Bergman certainly shows a lot of skin in skimpy outfits to arouse Roddy, although she does it to make sure he fulfills his sexual obligations later! Piper and Smith combating in the desert atop barren hills and rock? Yes, please! Piper locked down and unable to move while Bull uses a chainsaw to cut into his chastity lock had me wincing! The frog stripper spy wanting to shag Roddy really sets the tone for this film. 3/5

You can really tell that Roddy wanted to make the role work. I laughed a lot at him and found him consistently entertaining while Bergman plays off him well, the two clearly attracted to each other while bickering constantly. The Mad Max vibes and influence are obvious.