Retro Movie of the Month goes to 1988’s HELL COMES TO FROGTOWN.
MadMax’s bastard child. A future where human birth rates are at an all time low and reptilian mutations have evolved into the new age. No, it’s not a David Icke lecture. It’s Roddy Piper starring in HELL COME TO FROGTOWN.
Roddy Piper is Hell, One of the last fertile men alive in the world and destined to help rebuild humanity. Sandahl Bergman is a government scientist assigned to Pipers’ HELL. Lost in the wastelands tethered by a shock collar to his escort (Bergman) and battling evil tribes of amphibious savages. When his companions are kidnapped by the Frogs he must navigate a nightmarish hellscape to free them and give humanity one-more-chance.
One of Roddy Pippers lesser known cult classics. Hell Comes to Frogtown is actually a very very good movie. Loaded with very convincing practical make-up and visual effects; with a story that actually looks like someone was thinking outside the box. Bergman is as beautiful and engaging as she ever was. And Roddy Pipper is just awesome.
Critical reception for Hell Comes to Frogtown has been mixed to positive. TV Guide awarded the film two out of five stars, calling it “Another of those futuristic, post-apocalyptic science fiction dramas”.[4]
DVD Talk gave the film three out of five stars, writing, “Rowdy Roddy Piper has to save the world by diddling beautiful babes and squashing six-foot mutant toads with crummy attitudes. What’s not to like?”[5]
Jason Cook from The Spinning Image rated the film a score of six out of ten stars, writing, “Cheap and cheerful its narrative lulls and directorial shortcomings are glossed over by a winning central performance and a smattering of witty dialogue. Its no cinematic masterpiece, but were there any talking mutant frogs in Citizen Kane?”[6]
Though not received well by critics, producer Randall Frakes says he was glad the fans seemed to like it and “get all the jokes as intended”.
Hell Comes to Frogtown inspired the title of the “Hell Comes to Quahog” (2006) episode of animated television series Family Guy.
I really don’t want to spoil this one. So keep an open mind. Be cool. Be real. and always keep that finger on the REWIND button.
