In the grindhouse tribute Mad Heidi, a maniacal dictator (Casper Van Dien) aspires to phase out the lactose intolerant with his firm laws for dairy consumption, which will then lead to world domination. This fascism leads our titular swiss miss (Alice Lucy) to be permanently distanced from her grandfather (David Schofield) and her hunky, underground cheese peddling lover Goat Peter (Kel Matsena).  Heidi is later thrown into an all-women’s prison where everyone exchanges intimidating looks and questionable innuendo, and partake in intense combat training. When she’s pushed past her anger and sadness, she’s inspired to seek vengeance.

Using the classic tale of Heidi as narrative foundation (as well as a tired play on Nazism), directors Johannes Hartmann and Sandro Klopfstein (who also co-wrote the exhausting screenplay with Gregory D. Wildmer) label Mad Heidi as the first “swissploitation” flick;  meaning they’ve taken the tropes of low-rent grindhouse cinema to a different destination.  It’s less grimy and more….synthetically European.  However, despite the film having legitimate roots in Switzerland, this change of scenery doesn’t bring much to the table. The new qualities have been used to place a persistent emphasis on the movie’s sense of humour.  Considering the jokes are one-note (such as the gags based around people’s inability to eat dairy), Mad Heidi’s oblivious production doesn’t make it far with this plan. 

Mad Heidi plays like one of those faux-trailers that made 2007’s cult film Grindhouse so popular; only the trailer Mad Heidi is using for inspiration is Rob Zombie’s silly contribution Werewolf Women of the SS.  Just as audiences witnessed Zombie frantically search for jokes in a brief timespan, Mad Heidi’s thin satire doesn’t have enough to goof on without feeling insensitive and/or desperate.  The exploitation bits of the movie are copycat fodder with a poser’s personality;  acknowledging what it’s trying to emulate but also giving their intent a sarcastic spin, undercutting the passion behind this crowdfunded project.

The longer Mad Heidi went on for, the more restless and annoyed I became.  When the movie finished, my sides were sore.  Not from laughing at the movie’s intended absurdity, but from the filmmakers digging their elbows into my side;  aggressively asking if I was “getting what they were going for”.  Mad Heidi?  More like Mad Addi(son). 

**********

Do You Tweet? Follow These Tweeple:

Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie