Running Time: 90 Minutes
Starring: Dean Kilbey, Perry Benson, Mark Monero, David Alexander, Barbara Smith, Emma Stannard, Juliet Cowan, Jase Johnson, Steve Oram, Peter Andre
Writer/Director Marc Coleman makes the tone of Members Club known from the very opening, as a man arrives at a spot with a "No Dogging" sign to defiantly partake in an X-rated meet-up. He soon realizes that something is wrong, although the epiphany comes too late as he meets a grisly end. With this intersection of sex, comedy, and horror, Coleman delivers a strange beast of a work.
Viewers are then introduced to Wet Dreams, a group of male-strippers who perform to a cheering crowd within a glitzy club. That is all in their imagination, as reality soon reveals that the middle-aged group have been wrongly booked for a children's party. This is the latest in a string of disastrous gigs, which leaves the once-successful gang to consider disbanding. In an effort to save the group, front-man Alan (Dean Kilbey) takes over the business to book a lucrative and mysterious gig in rural Essex. When the group arrive at the desolate club, their night takes a dark turn as they become entangled in a plot to resurrect a murderous 16th century witch.
Considering that the group have been going since the '90s, there is a struggle amongst the members to continue the work that was once so important to them. Time has moved on since The Full Monty, and it may be time for them to move on from Wet Dreams. That is easier said than done for Alan, who is not ready to let go of the group which he lost himself in amidst grief, leaving him with a strained relationship with his daughter, Daisy (Barbara Smith).
With an expansive cast list, it is unfortunate that characterization is largely thin on the ground, and by-the-numbers at best. It becomes difficult to care for the character's fates when there is one thing to define them, and it usually involves their sexual exploits. There are admittedly humorous elements within the film, such as the utilization of Another Level's 'Freak Me', although this can feel sporadic when some gags are a slog to sit through.
This film struggles to last in the memory, and it comes down to a lacking script which struggles to balance the differing elements throughout. Despite that, there is a charm to this work which leaves it feeling endearing in places, and leaves a line like "It's cock o'clock" to work in the moment. A special mention is deserved for Peter Andre, as the Mysterious Girl singer gives a bizarre performance when he appears out of the blue. Members Club is the kind of film that will find an audience, with an appreciate crowd late at night with alcoholic beverages in hand. Outside of that, it may be more difficult to be won over by the film.
Members Club made its World Premiere at Frightfest 2024
Comments