By David Dent
I don’t generally like writing reviews that include a comparison of two movies to aid understanding of what one might expect onscreen; but I couldn’t resist, for ‘Members’ Club’, by Marc Coleman, is truly a mashup of ‘The Full Monty’ and, er, ‘Suspiria’. There, that feels better.
Down on their luck combo ‘Wet Dreams’, labelled as the ‘5th Best Male Stripper Group in Essex’, are dumped by their manager, ‘Double Dip’ Deano (Liam Noble). But there’s bills to pay, so one of the chaps, Alan (Dean Kilbey) agrees to take on management duties. Their first gig on his watch is a well-paid party; one dance, £800 each; what’s the catch?
Well the location is Hatfield Peverel, an Essex village famed for holding witch trials back in the day; and there’s a big hint if you need one. When the group arrive they’re asked to change into robes rather than their usual stage gear by club owner (and satanic host) Joanne (Juliet Cowan), and it isn’t long before they’ve succumbed to the drugged rider and are tied up in chairs awaiting their fate, as sacrifices to raise from the dead the ancient witch, Agnes.
For the first 45 minutes Members’ Club is a laugh riot, as coarse and Essex as you like, as the hapless strippers realise just what mess they’ve got themselves into. Sadly the middle section, in which the various members of the group reckon with their own failures, rather drags, although things pick up for the final battle with the witch.
‘Members’ Club’ is, for the most part, spirited fun. Obviously shot on a small budget, the gore is mostly replaced with a certain, er, phallic preoccupation (the movie’s title is rather apposite and before the end credits you get to find out exactly why Dino is so nicknamed). Add in a cameo from Peter Andre and music from, amongst others, Sleaford Mods and Chas & Dave, and there’s a lot to like about this.
Members Club is available on UK digital platforms from 21 October 2024.
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