Save Our Skins

The DVD cover for this 2014 British effort is rather misleading, suggesting gory horror instead of goofy end-of-the-world comedy. Writers-stars Chris Hayward and Nat Saunders play British geeks Stephen and Ben, who are in New York City for a fan convention, and wake up to find the city deserted, all TV stations off the air, and a blue monster running around their hotel. These lads are not terribly bright and are barely able to get themselves out of town in search of a viral signal they hope will explain why no one is left, aside from a crazy woman in a straitjacket yelling “Kill!” and a couple of fellow nerds who are equally clueless. A parody of apocalypse films, zombie movies, and sci-fi thrillers, this ultimately plays like a series of stitched-together skit comedies. Directed by Kent Sobey, Save Our Skins has been screened at many sci-fi/fantasy film festivals, and aired on TV as a four-episode miniseries. Some genre fans may enjoy this, but the doofus humor isn't nearly as clever or funny as, say, the Brit sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf. Not a necessary purchase. (S. Axmaker)