Members Club may be the rarest type of comedy horror movie. The plot follows a group of middle aged men who work together in a strip group known as Wet Dreams. Business is not as strong as it once and their manager soon announces he will be selling the company. Just when things are at their worst, the friends are offered a lucrative gig. They soon learn they are part of a bloody scheme to resurrect a centuries old witch.
Folk horror can be difficult to define. It is not as in your face as a slasher or as obvious as a haunted house story. Since it is based in folklore, this makes the definition very broad. It is one of those cases of “I know it when I see it.” However, most people will agree there are not many folk horror comedy movies. (Unless you count ghost stories as folk horror, in which case there are a large number of films that mix folk horror and comedy.)
There are no ghosts in Members Club, but there are witches, books of magic, rituals, sacrifices, and a number of mystical symbols. The creature design is great with the witch being of the old hag variety. She looks suitably disgusting. There are also some great special effects involving missing eyes, body parts being removed, and some gruesome deaths.
Almost surprisingly, this is a character-driven story. Along with plenty of gross out moments is a script about family and friends. The relationship between the members of Wet Dreams is well developed. From the opening moments, Members Club does an excellent job of showcasing how strong their bond is. It is shocking and disappointing how little the group does together in the larger plot.
Still, it is better than the subplot involving front man Alan (Dean Kilbey) and his daughter Daisy (Barbara Smith). The two are not given much time together, and what they do have feels thrown together. It is an odd oversight that affects the final moments. Members Club does enough good that these missteps do not take away from the overall enjoyment. Filled with toilet humor, disgusting sight gags, and gross out moments it is all the best parts of the spooky season.
Members Club hits UK digital platforms October 21.
