Reviewed by Melissa Garza
“We’re going to get them out, and you’re going to get them pregnant.” – Dr. Spangles (Sandahl Bergman)
Of all the pro-wrestlers who have ventured into making films, the one who has done best for himself is by far Rowdy Roddy Piper. In this cult classic, a nuclear war wipes out most of humanity, and women now vastly outnumber men. Of the male survivors, most are sterile, and the population is diminishing quite rapidly. If that wasn’t enough of a problem, a new mutant race of frog people emerge.
Meanwhile, Sam Hell (Roddy Piper) is wrongfully arrested for sexual assault. When the alleged victim finds out she is pregnant, she quickly comes forward and admits to the deception. Still, he is not released. Sam is taken in for examination by MedTech, a government clinic, attempting to salvage the human race. Soon, it is known that the pregnancy was no fluke and that Hell is very fertile. MedTech offers him his freedom for a price.
The leader of the frog people, Commander Toty (Brian Frank) has captured a group of fertile women and is holding them for ransom. Hell is enlisted in the rescue mission and reluctantly agrees.
Now this is no “They Live,” but it still has its moments and is a fun film to watch on a lazy day. It’s over-the-top and ridiculous. The plot is predictable and silly; the dialogue is warped and unrealistic, but that in essence is the charm.
Without question, Piper carries the film. He is charismatic and wins over the audience with ease which allows them to get involved in an otherwise insane production. This is not unlike the way he won over wrestling fans. Irregardless, of the match or the storyline that surrounded Rowdy, he never seized to make it work.
In the wrestling world, there has been an ongoing debate as far as who the greatest of all time really is. Two names always come up in conversation; Hulk Hogan and The Hot Rod. Though this ventures off the topic at hand, it still is worthy of discussion. The differences between the two make the answer crystal clear. Hulk Hogan was continuously shoved down the throats of the fans as the hero. He was given more air-time than any other wrestler. He wasn’t impressive behind the microphone and he was less impressive in the ring. Still, with enough hype and support, anyone can be famous. One could look to HHH, for further proof. Truth be told, Hulkamania had more to do with Vince McMahon and Piper than to do with Hogan. Vince built Hogan up by allowing him to rescue each and every superstar in danger; and Piper, of course, was the one causing the grief. Hogan reaped the benefits and because of it, his name is associated with the overall impact, but he doesn’t nearly deserve all of the credit.
Piper was the villain, and as such to gain popularity had to sell himself. He did so brilliantly and excelled because of his talent. He was raw and had more personality than any that came before or after. Nothing was more entertaining than when Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton were together wreaking havoc.
If only wrestling could return to the zaniness and capture some of the old flare it used to have. Maybe, if Piper, Orton, Dusty Rhodes, Bobby Heenan, Michael Hayes, and the others that made wrestling so great in the 80s took creative control of a federation, it could begin to work again. The T&A grows old quick and without the substance to back it up, it’s doomed for failure.
That said, “Hell Comes to Frogtown,” is a strange, sci-fi creation that is well worth the once over. It’s original, weird, and will find fans in those who appreciate MST3K and Ed Wood productions.
Scared Stiff Rating: 6/10
