Chillerama's Diary of Awesomeness

Chillerama is a schlocky horror anthology. It's comprised of four midnight movies, all jam-packed with raunchy, over-the-top, gory, cheesy, offensive humor. Today, I'm here to talk about the most awesome of these dastardly concoctions of cinema: Adam Green's The Diary of Anne Frankenstein.



Firstly, the title itself is pure genius. Sure, it's insensitive and inappropriate, but its also undeniably funny. The plot is this: Hitler and his Nazi goon's invade Anne Frankenstein's hideout to steal a diary in her family's possession that details how to bring the dead to life. Shot in black and white and featuring terrible German, The Diary of Anne Frankenstein doesn't entirely rely on "cheap" laughs and gratuitous violence like most films of its ilk.

Most of the humor is based on breaking the fourth wall in clever ways. Whether it be the characters bursting through walls only to appear in a previous set or the same actors playing different Nazi cronies to replace their dead counterparts, the movie hits these moments splendidly. One of my favorite examples of this humor is when a white Nazi is thrown in a fight, but we see a quick shot of a black actor dressed up as a Nazi hitting the ground and calling out in pain.

Zee Nazis are plotting

The cast couldn't have been more perfect. Adolf Hitler, hilariously played by Joel David Moore, is ridiculous in all the right ways. In fact, he spouts out a random brew of German, Spanish, and Star Wars speak. I also enjoyed his uncomfortable obsession with a puppy puzzle. Frankenstein's monster is portrayed by the mammoth stuntman-turned-actor known as Kane Hodder. Much like his masked role as Jason Voorheese, Hodder brings a strong helping of personality to what could have been a stoic performance. 

The Diary of Anne Frankenstein is a worthy piece of media to be paired with the esteemed adjective of awesome. If you find yourself in the mood for a fine piece of historical fiction set in Nazi-occupied Germany, don't watch this. Rather, if you're looking for midnight entertainment that will choke you up with guffaws, you must take advantage of Chillerama's offerings.