Dead Weekend
((Sun. (8), 8-10 p.m., Showtime))
Filmed in Studio City by I.R.S. Media in association with Showtime Entertainment Group. Exec producers, Paul Colichman, Miles Copeland III; co-executive producers, Amos Poe, Damian Jones; producer, Larry Estes; director, Poe; writer, Joel Rose; story, Poe; camera, Gary Tieche; editor, Fabienne Rawley; production designers, Gustav Alsina, Wayne Beswick; sound, D.J. Ritchie; music, Steve Hunter. Cast: Stephen Baldwin, DavidRasche, Tom Kenny, Alexis Arquette, Bai Ling, Afifi Alaouie, Blair Valk, Jennifer MacDonald, Barbara Alyn Woods, Sam Scarber, Marcos Antonio Ferraez, Clint Culp, Greg Wrangler, Greg Collins, David Millburn, Joe Davis, Stacy Strauss, Jon Regnery, Patrick Muldoon, Cindy Morgan, Richard Speight Jr., Craig Kvinsland, Perry Lang, Patrick Cupo, Nicholas Worth. This Showtime vidpic is pretty dreadful and will only liven-up the weekend for the odd horny adolescent. Nevertheless, the spoof is meant in good fun and it has some humorous touches that should appeal to sci-fi aficionados. Stephen Baldwin's character copulates on five separate occasions with an alien called Amelia. Luckily for him, and stimulated viewers, this alien can transform herself at will, so he enjoys five different luscious women.
Place and time are announced with a title: "The City. Sometime in the very near future." Baldwin's character, Weed, is part of a corrupt government police force that mobilizes in search of an alien. They use the situation to try to rid the city of street gangs. An evacuation is ordered on the pretense of an earthquake and the soldiers proceed to shoot anyone who stays behind.
Weed chances upon the extra-terrestrial and falls in love. She's "the perfect girl." Sex energizes her and helps her fight a fatal illness so she can return to her home planet. Sci-fi formula is further sent-up with the message Amelia delivers regarding her ability to gain power from pleasure.
Weed's partner (David Rasche) has some funny moments expressing skepticism about Weed's feelings for Amelia. A pirate radio station deejay (Alexis Arquette) knows what the government is up to and broadcasts a running commentary , as well as music from real-life bands. Rock score is the silver lining.
Low-budget production smacks of a film school collaboration. Camerawork, direction and most of the acting seems haphazard, even though the story follows an imitative logic. Production designers achieve one neat look for scenes in Weed's rooftop pad.
And "Dead Weekend" does have the virtue of a relatively short running time.
