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Identical twin sisters Badass and Geek wake up and set out on a routine errand. They soon discover a deceased prostitute in the trunk of their car. After that, their day becomes anything but ordinary. Since the ladies don’t have a very firm grasp on the event of the previous evening, they proceed to handle the disposal of the dead hooker themselves. Aided by two of their friends, Geek and Badass set out on a journey that involves dismemberment, the use of power tools, and much more.
Jen and Sylvia Soska made Dead Hooker in a Trunk as a passion project. They shot the picture while working as waitresses and filmed around their work schedule. The ladies used guerrilla filmmaking tactics and techniques they picked up from the Robert Rodriguez’s book Rebel Without a Crew. While the film has certain telltale signs that it was shot on a low budget, the finished product is still good. The sisters revealed that their film was made for just $2,500. That is a testament to exactly how talented the Soskas are as writers and directors. The fact that the pair wrote, directed and starred in Dead Hooker in a Trunk is a huge testament to their determination and versatility as filmmakers. They are competent with all aspects of the filmmaking process.
Though Dead Hooker in a Trunk is the feature film debut of The Twisted Twins, the girls deliver a picture that is less amateur than one would expect from first time directors. Especially considering that their budget wouldn’t even pay for a used Oldsmobile.
The script is darkly comedic at times and endearing at others. The relationship between the main characters is very authentic. It is clearly representative of Jen and Sylvia’s real life bond. Though not perfect, their collective directorial prowess is apparent in Dead Hooker in a Trunk. The ladies show an understanding of how to set up a shot. They also know the importance of well timed dialogue, and exactly when to inject a dose of irony. Their sophomore effort, American Mary shows even further growth over this film. It better expresses how talented these young ladies are.
The gore effects in Dead Hooker in a Trunk are very good. They are not just good for a low budget film. There are buckets of blood spilled throughout the course of the feature. And there is an eyeball-gouging scene that would make Lucio Fulci proud.
The Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino co-venture Grindhouse was a big inspiration in the creation of Dead Hooker in a Trunk. The sisters pay homage to the height of the drive-in theater era, much in the same manner that Grindhouse does. Dead Hooker in a Trunk is a gritty and ultra violent film. It is completely void of any real character development. The cast members don’t even have real names – as is often customary in exploitation films. The focus is not on the characters. Dead Hooker in a Trunk is focused on delivering over the top violence as early and often as possible. And it does just that. Both Geek and Badass manage to endear the audience to them in spite of the fact that they have almost no backstory or character development.
The acting in Dead Hooker in a Trunk is OK. The production didn’t have the benefit of repeat takes. And the shooting schedule was far from luxurious. It’s not great but it gets the job done. There are times where the picture appears rough around the edges but that is ultimately forgivable in light of the film’s guerilla-style roots.
If you haven’t seen Dead Hooker in a Trunk, it is a fun, ridiculous, darkly comedic picture. It is worth checking out. But keep your expectations in check. Remember that the film was made for next to nothing. Dead Hooker in a Trunk is currently available on DVD from IFC. The disc comes with a variety of special features. It includes deleted scenes, alternate takes, and behind the scenes interviews.
WICKED RATING: 5.5/10 [usr 5.5]
Director(s): Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska
Writer(s): Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska
Stars: Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska
Year: 2009
Studio/ Production Co: Industry Works Pictures, Twisted Twins Productions
Budget: $2,500
Language: English
Length:92 Minutes
Sub-Genre: Action/Grindhouse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Hooker_in_a_Trunk
