Psycho Beach Party (2000)
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55% of critics liked it
(31 reviews) -
61% of users liked it
(8,367 ratings)
Robert Lee King directs this wacky, campy fusion of teenaged surfer flicks and slasher sagas. Impossibly perky Florence (Lauren Ambrose) doesn't quite fit in at her thoroughly square high school in her seaside Southern California town -- that is, until she happens upon a band of ultra-hip surfer… More Robert Lee King directs this wacky, campy fusion of teenaged surfer flicks and slasher sagas. Impossibly perky Florence (Lauren Ambrose) doesn't quite fit in at her thoroughly square high school in her seaside Southern California town -- that is, until she happens upon a band of ultra-hip surfer dudes. Renaming herself "Chicklet," she tries her gosh-darnedest to be the sole girl riding the waves with the group led by suave Kanaka (Thomas Gibson). While adopting her surfer alter ego, Florence soon discovers that other less pleasant personalities emerge when confronted with the sight of polka dots. One called Anne Bowman is a tough, "experienced" older lady, while the other, Tylene, is a stereotypical sassy black woman. Blacking out whenever these other personalities take over, Florence becomes increasingly worried that she is responsible for a series of grizzly murders. Of course, she is far from the only suspicious character in her oceanside community -- there's B-movie star Bettina Barnes (Kimberly Davies), Swedish exchange student Lars (Matt Keeslar), and Florence's own unnervingly-perfect mom (Beth Broderick). This film was adapted from a popular off-Broadway play written by Charles Busch. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Lee King
- Written By
- Charles Busch
- Genres
- Comedy, Cult Movies
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Aug 4, 2000 Wide
- Studio
- Strand Releasing
Critic Reviews
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
It's too much filmed theater to come alive fully on the screen.
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Dennis Lim, Village Voice
Awkward combination of garish set decoration and muffled humor.
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Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
Good belly laughs amid lower-key giddiness.
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Stephen Holden, New York Times
It definitively skewers the false innocence of American pop culture on the eve of the countercultural deluge.
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Ernest Hardy, Film.com
Saddled with both a script and direction that never comes near the wit or cleverness in Busch's own performance.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Lauren Ambrose
as Florence/Chicklet
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Thomas Gibson
as Kanaka
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Kimberley Davies
as Bettina/Diane
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Matt Keeslar
as Lars
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Charles Busch
as Capt. Monica Stark
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Beth Broderick
as Mom, Mrs. Forrest
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Amy Adams
as Marvel Ann
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Kathleen Robertson
as Rhonda
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Nathan Bexton
as T.J.
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Buddy Quaid
as Junior
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Jenica Bergere
as Cookie
