Despite a title that meant I had to watch it, my expectations for Zombie Strippers were pretty low.  There's a long tradition of schlocky horror films relying on nothing more than an exploitative title to put bums on (usually home furnished) seats, and this one is perhaps more genius than most.

As predicted, it wasn't exactly brilliant, but better than perhaps you'd think it deserved to be, given its cheap and cheerful production values and its crass attempt to cash-in on people's love for trashy cult films of yore.  Firstly, the fact it doesn't take itself at all seriously, goes in its favour.  Secondly, that it is so stupid that you don't take it at all seriously, also helps.  Nudity and gore are both in abundance, so you don't feel cheated on that front.  In addition, spending a large chunk of the budget on Jenna Jameson and Robert Englund was a shrewd move, both of whose fans would probably watch it no matter how terrible it was.

Lazy, clumsy, and occasionally spot-on political points are dotted throughout the picture.  My personal favourite is a retort given by the latest girl to join the strippers at Club Rhino.  Driven to stripping to raise funds for her grandmother's colostomy, and hassled by her pious Christian boyfriend, she succinctly illuminates some of society's class and gender problems when explaining her decision: "Maybe there's, more truth to the human condition, than taking my clothes off for emotionally stunted men, so my grandmother can shit in a bag, than me staying virginal and pure for you".

Sadly it is now de Rigueur(mortis) to have shamefully crap CGI effects in every low budget horror film, and I wish these guys had opted for old fashioned SFX, because even if equally shoddy, some old-school charm would have suited the knock-off retro-cult feel better, and would have in all likeliness elevated the film a little higher.

Is it trying to highlight people's attraction to freakish curiosities over the genuinely erotic?  Has it got something clever to say about neo-liberalism in America?  No, probably not.  Has it got stripping zombies?  Yes it has!

The other day I decided to cancel a subscription to an online movie rental package (after all two was probably a little excessive).  Although I expected my last rentals would probably arrive back within the allocated time, I was cutting it a little fine and didn’t want next month’s payment to be taken out automatically before they’d registered the return of the DVDs.

I checked my online bank account and the rental package wasn’t included amongst my direct debits, so figured it must be something I was paying for through my debit card.  Turns out it was a Continuous Payment Authority (CPA).  I rang the Co-op, who provided the account in question, to ask them to cancel any future payments from the rental company.  I was told that I needed to cancel the payments with the company themselves.  I explained that I’d already cancelled the package but wanted to make sure that no further payments could be taken.  I laid it on pretty thick, stating how important it was that the payment didn’t go out because I couldn’t afford it, etc. Again, they insisted that it was out of their hands and that short of starting somekind of long winded dispute that would have taken weeks; there was nothing within their powers to help my situation.  I would have probably just accepted their word for it had I not vaguely recalled something I heard on the radio about banks not following the regulations in such circumstances.  So I had a quick Google and came across a very useful page on the FSA (Financial Services Authority) website which very clearly stated what banks’ obligations were regarding regular card payments. 

With my newfound consumer confidence I rang the Co-op a second time, simply requesting a cancellation for all future payments to the DVD rental company.  Once again I was told that there was nothing they could do and that I really did have to contact the company themselves.  I informed them that according to FSA guidelines they were obliged to stop payments directly if I instructed them to.  Suddenly their assured but supposedly understanding and helpful tone changed.  They became a little vague and non-committal but essentially said they would ensure no further payments were taken from my account.  I told the chap on the phone that I thought it was a pretty poor service to be told by two of the Co-op’s representatives that I couldn’t do something that they knew full well was my legal right.  They mumbled something about “taking note of my concerns”, so point made I left it at that.

In my case it was only £15 but it could easily have been a stress inducing larger figure, or a variable amount with questionable validity.  Whilst you do have the right to cancel these payments, I should be clear that you are still liable for any money you may owe, but I know I’d rather dispute the matter with my money safely in my wallet.