Terror Firmer  (1999)
Directed by Lloyd Kaufman . Starring Will Keenan , Alyce LaTourelle, Trent Haaga , Debbie Rochon , Lloyd Kaufman, and Yaniv Sharon.
Somehow Troma managed to outshine , and outgross the excellent Tromeo and Juliet with this highly energetic cross-genre exploitation flick. Terror Firmer is a movie about making a movie. It takes place on the set of a Troma movie ( Citizen Toxie) , which is being directed by a blind independant movie director by the name of Larry Benjamin. Benjamin is loosely based on Troma co-founder Lloyd Kaufman.... as a matter of fact, Kaufman plays the blind director.
Everything isn't smooth sailing though.... apart from the usual problems associated with making an independant movie ,such as inept crewmembers , pre-madonna leading ladies , and blowing the budget , Larry has a much bigger problem to contend with.
A mysterious brunette is offing the cast and crew one by one. As the bodies begin piling up , the race is on to finish the movie before the entire crew is hacked to pieces.
The 'mysterious woman on the rampage' plot really takes a back seat to what this movie is all about. It's really a sentimental homage to both Troma , and truly independant filmmakers in general . It also takes a number of much deserving swipes at  mainstream filmmakers like Steven Speilberg , and Penny Marshal.... and at event movies like Ghost and Titanic. It's a very energetic movie , with a whole bunch of great characters.
Most notable is the ( much in need of Ritalin) Steve Buscemi look-alike fx guy Jerry. I still can't believe that this was the first time that Trent Haaga ( who plays the energetic movie geek) had ever acted. He quite liberally steals scenes left , right , and centre from more experienced actors. Lloyd Kaufman is also pretty funny as the blind, naive Larry Benjamin. Then there's the boom operator Casey ( played by Tromeo and Juliet star Will Keenan ). Casey is a movie snob who prefers a Speilberg movie any day to your usual exploitation fare....a real poncy arsehole. Both Jerry and Casey are competing for the affections of quiet , fresh-faced P.A. Jennifer.
Another notable newcomer is Yaniv Sharon as an eager P.A. He takes Tom Green style self-prostitution to new highs ( or lows ) by running naked through New Yorks times square . Debbie Rochon is also great as the talentless, egotystical  b-movie actress Christine . Big Joe Fleishaker , Lemmy from Motorhead , and the very underrated Ron Jeremy also show up. The movie is packed to the gills with references , in-jokes , sight gags , and commentary not just on exploitation film , but the sad state of affairs of cinema in general.
Trent Haaga delivers a particularly good monologue near the end of the movie regarding the spirit of true independant film. One of the scenes is a Seinfeld parody set in a diner. It works well , because it gives a sense of how mundane most movies and t.v. shows are before kicking into adrenaline charged high gear once again for more Troma insanity. A minor character called 'The Toddster' is also pretty funny. He's a parody of the terminally hip characters that seem to have overrun mainstream cinema , sitcoms , and angst ridden teen dramas. Every second word is "dude" , everyone idolises him , and he even has his own theme music ( a high pitched voice singing "Toddster!!!" ) .
Terror Firmer definitely isn't for everyone. You really need to have an appreciation for Tromas Mad Magazine style of exploitation cinema to have a good time with this , because it's definitely their most tasteless movie to date ( but that's a compliment , not a criticism ). If you get a kick out of Troma flicks , enjoyed Cecil B. Demented , and despise over-commercialised cinema , you'll find this to be a very wild , yet also sentimental  rollercoaster ride.
Entertainment : 4 out of 4
Watchability : 4 out of 4
Overall : 4 out of 4
Reviewed by Blake
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UPDATE!!! Even after all these years (well, 5 or 6), T.F. still rates as one of my top fifty movies of all time. A legitimately great Troma classic now finally available locally in Australia through Stomp Entertainment.
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE DVD ONLINE FROM SANITY
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