If Hello Kitty were to succumb to a moment of violent diarrhea and crap out some zombie infested school girls run amok, it might look a little something like STACY, the latest offering from Synapse Films and their Asian Cult Cinema Collection. It's been a while since we've seen an addition to this line-up from Synapse, and I'm always pleased to see off-the-wall Asian cinema being released locally on DVD. This was my first date with STACY, and while I found her actions to be a bit rude and anti-social, she's still a sweet gal at heart, you may want to give her a call sometime.

The truth of the matter is that STACY isn't just one gal. STACY is the term that's applied to the rash of schoolgirls mysteriously dying (aged 15-17) only to reanimate as the living dead (Stacies, if you will). Just before these gals pass on, they go through a state of euphoria that's been technically coined NDH, or "Near Death Happiness." The only way to destroy a STACY is to cut them up into approximately 165 pieces (called a "repeat kill"). This of course has been turned into big business, selling the aptly named Bruce Campell's Right Hand 2, a chainsaw, with a stylish grip you can use to hack and chop those pesky Stacies with.

In the mean time, there's a government group that has been set up to monitor the destruction and clean up of Stacies. All the while a scientist who's only slightly mad has been experimenting on a secret lab full of Stacies, who are eventually set free, now allowed to rampage in all of their schoolgirl uniform wearing glory. Fathers, friends and boyfriends are forced to wrestle with the dilemma of having to chop up their loved ones once they turn into a Stacy or face the risk of being gruesomely devoured by them. I pity any gal who lives in this world legitimately named Stacy, not a pleasant time to possess that name I suppose.

There are a lot of ways to take in STACY, on the surface it's quite a light hearted, gory horror spoof with an apparently fine sense of humor. At one point a woman argues with a young man who's just chopped up his girlfriend, that he can't put her remains out on the curb just yet because Stacy pickup isn't until Friday! In addition to the multiple George Romero and Evil Dead nods (most of which I honestly could've done without) there are some really effective comedic moments. The gore is gratuitous and mostly convincing as heads and limbs are torn off and Stacies devour just about everything and anything that crosses their path. Oh, and did I mention the Japanese schoolgirls brandishing automatic weapons? Yeah, we got a few of those as well.

Underneath it's blood-drenched exterior, one can see the more than serious metaphors for love, kindness, acceptance, compassion and...well, you name it. The liner notes that accompany the DVD do a pretty good job with stating this case. Unfortunately, this is where audiences will most likely be divided. If someone's gonna view STACY as just plain stupid, then there's not really much to do other than accept the fact that it just wasn't for them. Whether you view STACY as a lighthearted comedic gore-fest or appreciate the attempts at meaningful social commentary, there really is a lot to dig about STACY. But of course, how you ultimately wind up interpreting STACY is completely up to you.

Shot on DV and presented in an anamorphic widescreen transfer, STACY looks pretty fantastic here. Colors are bold and strong and there is really no evidence of any artifacts. Audio is presented in Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 with removable English subtitles. Dialogue is clear with no evidence of distortion, audio appears to have been recorded quite clearly.

Extras include a theatrical trailer and the aforementioned liner notes. I enjoyed STACY and the fact that this film can be taken in on quite a few levels, should lend it to a much broader blood crazed audience. The gore is extremely impressive and robust and while I could've lived without the ::winking:: horror type references, I still found a lot to like here. Whether you take it in as a serious comment on society and relationships or dig the fact that young Japanese schoolgirls are eating anyone in sight and having their brains blown out, STACY is a neat little gore flick. I hear that Stacy is free tonight, if you're so inclined, you may want to give her a call.

Order STACY at xploitedcinema.com and tell 'em that The Monsters sent you!