Mondo Baltimore Offends Your Very Good Taste

Mondo Baltimore provides a chance for North Baltimore film fans to indulge in the crappiest, schlockiest and campiest films out there.

The event is held on the first Thursday night of every month at The Windup Space.

The films aren't for everybody, to be sure – it helps to be a bit of a film nerd, to tend toward the shamelessly ironic, contend that the worst taste is the best, that cheap editing is golden, that the most artless acting is the worthiest of display, and that uneven, incoherent, broken plots don't need fixing, that up is down and that showtime doesn't mean Shuuussssh!

The hosts of the evening, Dr. Acula and Ghoulinda, campy characters themselves, guarantee there's a show beside the show.

Dr. Acula appears as a youthful Grandpa Munster, while Ghoulinda is coiffured in a massive and sagging beehive, which, as Dr. Acula pointed out, “looks like it has its own ecosystem up there.”

Spectator antics abound and are encouraged. Film-specific drinking-game rules are provided at the tables. The audience is expected to provide uninhibited Mystery Science Theater-style commentary. The member whose commentary is generally judged to have garnered the most laughs over the evening is prized with a free drink. Raffle tickets are sold at $2 a pop. The first-place winner received $25 off his bar tab, second place was awarded two Troma films, and third place received a T-shirt. Free popcorn is provided.

The film of choice last Thursday was the David A. Prior-directed Deadly Prey (1987). Prior has a long-established reputation for directing pure schlock. An overview of his shining oeuvre preceded the feature. Highlights were shown from such unconscionably bad films as Don't Tie Me Up, White Fury, Mankillers, Invasion Force, Final Countdown, The Lost Platoon, Killzone and Deathchase – distinguishable by title only.

Deadly Prey is best summed up in Dr. Acula's introduction: “In the '80s, there was an action movie sub-genre, where men in hockey-mullets would go out into the woods, and they were always Vietnam vets and they were always screwed up and they would kill everybody. That's basically what happens.” A more accurate synopsis has not been given.

The film's showing proceeded along the expected lines. Mimicry, in-jokes and shouts from all the audience; blood, gore and hilarity on-screen; frequent trips made for drinks and more free popcorn. 

The next Mondo Baltimore night is on Thursday, March 3. It will be a double-feature showing of Kindergarten Ninja at 7 p.m., followed directly by Pocket Ninjas at 8:15 p..m – 2.9/10 and 1.3/10 star ratings on imbd.com, respectively.

Roger Ebert will not be in attendance. Though Roper is still undecided. 

The Wind Up Space is located in The Station Arts district at 10-12 W. North Ave, Baltimore. Admission to Mondo Baltimore is free. Ages 21 and up.