The Fungus Among Us (2018)

Starring Gabriela Pedraza, Jamie Trevino, Stephanie Marie Baggett, Stefanie Jo Saenz, Natalie Wise
Directed by Joshua Kennedy
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

An all-girl gang kidnap a young woman and hide out in an abandoned house south of the Mexican border, unaware that a deadly supernatural creature will soon be stalking them.

Young auteur Joshua Kennedy delivers a mashup of classic horror and exploitation in his latest production, filmed in black and white, and full of classic movie references, apparently most inspired by Russ Meyer's Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill.  I've never seen Meyer's film, but with plenty of attractive ladies in the cast, and a full-fledged catfight, other reviewers have made the connection.

Although the picture's black and white photography is part of Kennedy's homage to the period he's paying tribute to, it certainly works well within the boundaries of the film, adding mystery and mystique particularly during the driving sequences in which we only see bright headlight beams penetrating the darkness.  It also adds some monochromatic spice to the appearance of the feisty ladies in the cast, setting off blonde Stephanie Marie Baggett against the other brunettes visually, as well in the story when it's revealed she's made a major mistake.

While the action's going on, the ladies are watching the classic B-movie Horrors Of Spider Island on the television, which thematically with its cast of ladies being stalked by a spider monster has similarities with the plot of this picture, a nice addition that foreshadows on the TV what's to come in Kennedy's movie, in another sly tribute by the director.

Kennedy regular Marco Munoz also makes an appearance as the scruffy and uncouth male leader of the gang who has had relations with more than one of the ladies, leading to more tension and struggles between the women.  Saenz, as the gang's victim, and the heroine of the piece, subtly shows off her smarts and resources in a nice performance.  Pedraza and Trevino square off over Munoz in the well-choreographed catfight with convincing determination by both actresses, and Wise, brandishing an imposing serrated knife, makes a fearsome impression.

The appearance of the fungus, often showcased in green-tinted sequences, is effectively used in the film, quite similar to the alien growth in the '60s sci-fi flick Mutiny In Outer Space.  Sound effects and makeup on its victims heighten the menace of the fungus, that moves under its own power and goes from slight movement towards its first victims, to a rapid expansion and spread near the climax.

Tom Milligan provides some eerie musical themes to set the film's early tone, and classical hits are also excerpted for maximum effect as the tension builds.  The combination is not as effective as a full score would have been, but Kennedy also uses the silence on the soundtrack in between to the film's advantage in some key moments.

Clocking in at a brisk 45 minutes, I felt the movie started a little slow with its focus on the bickering characters, but once the fungus shows up, things pick up rather nicely and it becomes a taut suspenseful work.  Kennedy's love for the material shows, I think the photography is first rate, and his cast does a nice job of selling a seamy story, making the picture seem just like the kinds of movies they used to show on late night television.