Hey gang, Valkor here. As I prep my mind and body for what will most assuredly the most epic film of the summer aka The Dark Knight Rises, I’ve got a serious case of “revenge film-itis”. And looking through my stack of DVDs I found just what the doctor ordered in the form of “Cherry Bomb”. Given the premise, I thought it'd be more like “I Spit on your Grave” or “Run! Bitch Run!”. It’s pretty hardcore, but not as edgy and gruesome as the aforementioned films. Check it out.
Cherry Bomb centers on a stripper who goes by the name… wait for it… Cherry Bomb (Julin). While performing a sexy dance for the fellas in the VIP room, the tables are soon turned when the bouncer is paid to leave, and the five guys – Pete Finn (Dave Buckman), Rick Lewis (Alan Martin), Ed Randall (Aaron Alexander), Doug Baggins (Conor Nobles), and Adam Berry (Jeremy James Douglas Norton) , have their way with Cherry. She winds up in the hospital nursing her injuries. She’s soon visited by Detective Whitlock (D.J. Morrison) and naming names of the guys who attacked her. But later all is disproven when Ed gives up a sperm sample. Ed was the only one who didn’t take a crack of that ass, but was present during the incident (he likes to watch).
While laid up, her brother Brandon (John Rodriguez) secretly pays Cherry a visit and overhears all who are involved. He pays Adam a visit in hopes of getting him to flip for the hospital bills, a scuffle ensues and Adam winds up dead. Cherry sees this as an opportunity for her and her brother to team up and get back at the fuckers who raped her, so she and Brandon make plans to get some sweet revenge. However the bad guys are not without their own ace in the hole in the form of Bull. Once the bodies start dropping, he’s called in to do some clean up. So not only do Brandon and Cherry have to finish what they started, but they’ll also have to fend against a hitman who just won’t quit.
Cherry Bomb is a low budget, independent production and while the overall quality is low, it rates very high in terms of story, acting, and action. Plus in the first five minutes of the film – titties! Nuff said.
The Good:
Cherry Bomb is a revenge thriller that was waaaaay better than I had expected! Not the greatest story ever told, but definitely a good one. The plot’s simple and very straightforward with no crazy twists, though there is one slight twist at the end, but it’s a predictable and it won’t leave you in awe. The acting is a mix between just bad, to really good, to over the top but for this type of film, the combination works and really helps to carry the story along. My personal favorite without a doubt goes to Jeremy James as Adam Berry – he took his role more seriously than the rest and you can really buy into his hilly billy, thuggishness. Julin does a pretty decent job as well… in the second half after she confronts Ed. I mean where was that anger from the beginning? To round things out, the soundtrack is pretty sweet and there’s a nice dose of gore, nothing too extreme, but when it happens you’ll definitely flinch. In the end, not bad. Not bad at all.
The Bad:
Julin is great in the second half of the film, but from the moment after she’s raped and attacked, she plays the role waaaay to bubbly. I mean, I wanted to see her seriously pissed and yet she acts like a teeny bopper without a care in the world. Finally, Brandon was way too whiny for my taste. I would think after the first or even the second killing, he’d just fall in. But He keeps preaching about being careful, not doing this or that. Dude, really?
The Ugly:
Ian (Nick Manning) when he gets fireworks to the face. First is that awful scream he lets out and second is his face when it’s all over. It’s about as gruesome as Two-Face in “The Dark Knight”.
Cherry Bomb is available now on DVD and blu-ray/DVD combo pack and it’s a solid effort of a film with decent storyline and performances. I thought I’d hate on this one but as it stands Cherry Bomb gets a 3.5 out of TOV 5 stars. If there were a sequel, I think I’d check it out.
