The only issue I have with Rickey Bird Jr.’s zombie thriller sequel, Naked Zombie Girl is Back, is that the girl zombie is not naked, but instead, it’s the protagonist, Barbara (Nicole Cinaglia). OK, it’s not really an issue at all.
Barbara and her two friends, Tony (Robbie Allen) and Jill (Ivy Polkinghorne) are booking it out of town with a bag full of cash and a horde of zombies following them. Tony has been bitten and is not doing well.
The trio finds themselves being chased by a greedy man, Big Jake (D.T. Carney), with a gun. After both are run off the road by an oncoming semi, the zombies dispatch with her friends, and Barbara is left to fend for herself. Unfortunately, during her escape, Barbara loses her dress and must figure out how to survive while completely naked (except for her boots).
“…Barbara loses her dress and must figure out how to survive while completely naked…”
Well, you had me at “naked,” though not exactly how you think. Let’s just say Barbara is naked…strategically naked. Hammering the gimmick home, the film works because it’s naked. Remove the naked…rather, put clothes on Barbara and you have a fairly standard zombie short film.
As a zombie film, it exceeds most indie zombie shorts. Car chases are not easy on an indie budget. The zombie make-up is exceptional along with the “naked” make-up as well. The story is well-thought out adding a twist in Big Jake’s return.
Again, this review all comes back to “naked.” While there’s a vulnerability that shows with Barbara’s state of undress, I’m looking for the danger of being nude and fighting zombies, which might be worth considering in part three. There are specific challenges when it comes to surviving sans clothes and addressing those issues will take the Naked Zombie Girl franchise to the next level.
Naked Zombie Girl is Back brings a fresh take to the zombie genre and is worthy of your support for indie filmmakers willing to move these stories forward.
For screening information, visit the Naked Zombie Girl official website.