Hollywood 90028 is an angsty drama about the Hollywood dream, the gentrification of Los Angeles, and how the desperation for fame can lead to tragedy. But it's all wrapped up in disguise. Surrounding those themes is a story about Mark (Christopher Augustine) a cameraman on porno movies who's also a serial killer.
It's an odd mix! Those appreciating what director Christina Hornisher is trying to say about Hollywood will probably be turned off by the porno shoot bits (have to admit, those bits made me a little uncomfortable), and those who are there for the porny bits and murder are going to be pretty bored by the rest of it.
There's a lot of dialogue in this, but there are two lengthy bits that are really memorable. One accompanies a section filmed in Bunker Hill, and discusses the decline of that neighborhood that was once full of families and beautiful Victorian homes. These sequence features some amazing shots of those decaying homes.
The other bit is a monologue by Michelle (Jeannette Dilger) an actress Mark meets on one of his film shoots. She talks about arriving from a small town in pursuit of Hollywood fame, and how a young actress can, bit bit by, find herself working in adult films.
There weren't a lot of women directing exploitation films in the 70's, and while the exploitative aspects of Hollywood 90028 are no different than something that may have been shot by a man - director Christina Hornisher is not hiding any of the expected nudity - there's definitely some commentary going on, from the monologue mentioned above, to the sweaty and lecherous director who watches his set from above with binoculars, to the murderous cameraman himself. (Definite shades of Michael Powell's Peeping Tom in him.)
Hornisher never made another feature, and studios really didn't know what to do with Hollywood 90028. Shot in 1973, it didn't get released until 1976. It was later re-cut and re-released under the title The Hollywood Strangler, and anyone expecting a slasher film would have come away disappointed. I'm even reluctant to include it in this countdown, because it barely counts as a horror film. But it's such a unique, odd, and beautiful film, and anyone who's a fan of Ti West's X trilogy is going to appreciate it. It also has one of the most astounding final shots I've ever seen, anywhere, let alone in a low budget exploitation film by a first time director...
I watched Hollywood 90028 on Mubi. It's also available on Hoopla.
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