Sorority Babes in the Dance-A-Thon of Death


Title: Sorority Babes in the Dance-A-Thon of Death (1991)
Rating: 1/5
Genre: Horror
Starring: Laura Fuhrman, Lisa Krueger, Holly Star
Director: Todd Sheets
Duration: 68 mins
Country: USA

“Oh my God, Chuck! You’re all messed up!”


Like wow, man! Video horror filmmaker extraordinaire Todd Sheets brings us a totally retro no-budget romp around a totally heinous college campus. A group of sorority hopefuls have a groovin’ party when a magic crystal ball one of the girls brought sprays them in the face with smoke. They think nothing of it and continue partying when two dorks crash the scene bearing pizza. But in order to join the ever-so-popular sorority, the girls have to stay overnight in “the old abandoned college on the top of the hill.” Little do they know that one of them is infected with the spirit of a Kandarian demon. Soon, they will have to face off with the evil entity on the dance floor of a local nightclub with the help of the elderly but mystically powered antique store owner. Will good triumph over evil???

Sorority Babes in the Dance-A-Thon of Death is Sheets’ early effort at what you’d expect to be rowdy exploitation fare. But be warned: herein contains no nudity, no gore, and *gasp* NO DANCE-A-THONS! That’s right, when I said our heroes have to face off with the evil entity, I didn’t mean in a “Step Up 3-D” kind of way. Sure there’s some innocent gyrations during the sorority house party scenes, but nothing to justify such a title. And I suppose the lack of nudity can be excused since most of the cast look underage. But there is no excuse for the lack of blood and guts. Todd Sheets has made a name for himself as a provider of video splatter with such movies as Goblin, Bloodthirsty Cannibal Demons, and the Zombie Bloodbath trilogy. What people don’t know is that he also helmed a number of “bimbo” movies including Prehistoric Bimbos in Armageddon City, Bimbos in Time, Bimbos B.C., and this little beauty. Instead of gore, we get 80’s fashion, hairdos, and lingo with a bit of running around to keep the action up.

This is far from Sheets’ best movie. The characters all act like valley girls and guys on downers. Continuity errors are present in the shape of appearing and disappearing “evil make-up.” You can actually hear Sheets yell “action!” and “cut!” in a couple of scenes. Poor lighting makes very little use of what would normally have been primo locations. We are subject to not one but two Twister-playing scenes that are not really what you’d call titillating. The film endows padding and exposition in the shape of two bickering old people (relatives perhaps?). And last but not least, I wouldn’t recommend this to people who easily succumb to seizures as the climactic battle scene is very strobe light friendly. As with many of Sheets’ movies, the bland musical score is provided by the lo-fi metal maestro(s) Enochian Key as well as some gloomy organ music and a Manheim Steamroller-like opening credits piece. I think it’s safe to say that Sorority Babes does not deliver the goods.

If you are at all interested in shot-on-video horror movies of the early 90’s, Todd Sheets is definitely a name to look up. His films can be over-the-top violent and very fun to enjoy. However, this offering is surely one to skip as it contains nothing of the sort. And if you’re looking for sorority babe action, look no further than the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama. If you reach the Dance-A-Thon of Death, you’ve driven too far.

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