Hippies! There is a problem with hippies in movies. We end up cheering for the monsters or killers that seek to dismember them. The hippie movement of the 60s gave way to abhorrent politicians when they grew up. Many of today's ghoulish and evil senators, congressmen, or governors were hippies who grew up, put on a suit and tie, and decided to ruin America. They succeeded. The hippies in this film will be tormented or murdered...but there are a couple of babes that we do pull for...imagine that. Our feature today is the psychedelic drive-in offering, 1969's "Scream Baby Scream," directed by Joseph Adler.
Art student and major league babe Janet (Eugenie Wingate) paints nudes nicely. Her boyfriend, the grouchy Jason (Ross Harris) is also painting nudes in the same class. The nude? Joyce (Candy Ernst) comes on to Jason, but Jason only has eyes for Janet...for now. No matter, a guest professor, Charles Butler (Larry Swanson) woos the class with his paintings of disfigured women. He'll then kidnap the nude Joyce, disfigure her face, and paint her portrait. See, the portraits of disfigured women are all real babes which he has disfigured through a scalpel and a secret formula. Okay, we should mention Marika (Suzanne Stuart). Marika is also in the same art class. She's hot for the grouchy Jason , but Jason only wants Janet. By the way, Janet looks terrific in blue go-go boots and short skirts.
While doing acid, the quartet goes exploring. I have not mentioned the rock musician Scottie (Chris Martell). Scottie and Jason fight when Jason disses Janet. Marika comforts and tries to seduce Jason. Scottie will be murdered by a ghoul and Janet will be captured by Butler. Why has Butler captured Janet? Guess! Now Jason wants Janet back and he is also wanted for the murder of Scottie. Butler is busy with his scalpel, babes, and his paints. Marika is busy trying to seduce Jason, but she is too good for him. Now Jason forces the issue and in his way will be disfigured ghouls, a mad artist, a mad scientist (Jim Vance), and a cop who believes he murdered Scottie.
Will the beautiful Janet keep her beauty as the mad artist with the scalpel sets his sights on her? Just why is Butler marring sultry dames? Does Marika have any shot at all with Jason...especially if Janet succumbs to the disfigurement? The cheese factor is tremendous in this film and the go-go boots add to the allure. For some neat drive-in exploitation horror of the psychedelic type, where acid is dropped, and beatniks serenade pot heads in seedy clubs...see "Scream Baby Scream."