Every now and then, a visit to my local Pound Shop DVD section turns up a real gem; most of the time, however, the films I find there are real stinkers, like Head Cheerleader Dead Cheerleader, a festering canker of a movie that'll give you absolutely nothing to cheer about.
'Borrowing' most of it's ideas from Wes Craven's Scream, HCDC sees pretty pom-pom shaker Heather Connelly (Tasha Biering) pestered by threatening phone-calls from a maniac who has been offing her team-mates prior to a major game. Suspects include her current boyfriend Danny (Daniel Justin Roach), ex-boyfriend Chris (Andre Walker), touchy-feely Coach Cranford (Bobby Cerutti), shifty sheriff Bookman (Bill Roberson), and hobo Joseph Hatterman (Bob Carter).
Not only is this film highly unoriginal, it's also dreadfully amateurish and cheap looking, with a ridiculous script that attempts to out-do Kevin Williamson in the silly twist ending stakes, laughable performances from its mostly unknown cast (although the movie's only 'name' actress, Z-grade scream queen Debbie Rochon, is easily as crap), and risible gore effects (mannequin spare parts with red paint on them). Worst of all, writer/director Jeffrey Miller has his main character tied to one spot by the fact that she doesn't have a cordless phone; every time the phone rings (which is a lot), we get a boring conversation delivered in exactly the same place (in Craven's film, characters could move around whilst talking, making matters much more interesting).
Fans of trashy films might possibly glean a little enjoyment from the fact that the killer seems to enjoy chopping off his victims' breasts with an axe, and there is some gratuitous nudity to break up the monotony (Noelle Manuel, as lesbian cheerleader Molly, and Debbie Rochon get their tops off, and Beth Hunt as Violet is just hot), but even a few tasteless murders and some bare flesh doesn't stop this one from being a dud.
Oh well, at least it was short!