Mad Heidi (2022)

June 21, 2023 6:57 PM

After a fascist cheese-based regime seizes control of Switzerland, Heidi must escape prison and learn the ways of combat to save the motherland and prevent a tainted cheese apocalypse.

A crowd-funded riff on the Heidi story, racing gleefully through exploitation subgenres (Nazi, POW camp, women's prison, kung-fu, gladiator, and zombie, among others).

Starring Alice Lucy, Max Rüdlinger, Casper Van Dien, and David Schofield.

Directed by Johannes Hartmann. Produced by Valentin Greutert. Written by Sandro Klopfstein, Sandro Klopfstein, Johannes Hartmann, Trent Haaga, Gregory D. Widmer.

87% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Playing today in a one night event in theaters. Already streaming on Amazon Prime.

posted by DirtyOldTown (12 comments total)

Look, this is not really a movie. Not in the conventional, character/plot way. It's a series of riffs on exploitation subgenres stitched together with a ridiculous story, held together with madcap energy and knowing silliness. It's bloody, full of boobs, and patently absurd. We... very much enjoyed it.

The look is fascinating, because having essentially next to no budget, realism was out of the question. And so, they went with a look that apes propaganda posters and illustrations. It's pretty fun.

No one here is giving a great performance. There is not a real or sincere moment in the film. But everyone involved is having a blast, the plot holds the various riffs/sequences together, there are laughs, and there is blood. It's cheeky and entertaining.

It's both lowbrow as it gets and probably exactly what everyone who contributed was hoping for.

If you can laugh at cheese fascists, cheese zombies, edelweiss throwing stars, and goat cheese hustlers, you will have fun.

If you can't, it's not like anyone is going to try and change your mind.

This is a silly, piffleweight gag of a movie. I had fun, though.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:02 PM on June 21, 2023 [5 favorites]

This review gives a pretty good idea.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:35 AM on June 22, 2023

In my book, anything that involves f*cking up fascists is worth at least a look!
posted by Saxon Kane at 7:48 AM on June 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

We've been a "fucking up fascists" kick lately: Sisu, Becky, Wrath of Becky, Freaks Out (aka Freaks Vs. The Reich), Inglourious Basterds, Dead Snow, Black Book... there are just so many good ones.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:28 AM on June 22, 2023 [5 favorites]

Umm. Beg pardon?
posted by Naberius at 9:07 AM on June 22, 2023

We've been a "fucking up fascists" kick lately: Sisu, Becky, Wrath of Becky, Freaks Out (aka Freaks Vs. The Reich), Inglourious Basterds, Dead Snow, Black Book... there are just so many good ones.

Well, um, let's just say it's a target-rich environment these days.
posted by Naberius at 9:11 AM on June 22, 2023 [2 favorites]

This is the role Casper Van Dien was born to play. 😁
posted by Mr. Excellent at 11:13 AM on June 22, 2023

We've been a "fucking up fascists" kick lately: Sisu, Becky, Wrath of Becky, Freaks Out (aka Freaks Vs. The Reich), Inglourious Basterds, Dead Snow, Black Book... there are just so many good ones.

There's the Iron Sky sequel on Tubi if you want to keep up the trend. It has a similar vibe to Mad Heidi, tho I don't think the sequel was crowd funded like Mad Heidi and the first Iron Sky movie.
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:30 AM on June 22, 2023

I haven't seen that sequel or the Dead Snow sequel. I may show my kid Dirty Dozen first because I enjoy how pitiless the Nazi-killing is in that.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:45 PM on June 22, 2023

There's also Sky Sharks. Funny, I was thinking of the same thing on Dirty Dozen.
posted by Ashwagandha at 1:38 PM on June 22, 2023

Then Dead Snow sequel is fantastic DOT. Definitely worth checking it out.
posted by miss-lapin at 3:15 PM on June 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

Wait, Dead Snow sequel??
posted by Naberius at 6:22 AM on June 24, 2023