While partying under the Golden Gate Bridge, a group of teenagers is attacked by a rag-tag group of zombie-like monsters. These "neon maniacs" consist of a samurai warrior, a Native American, a caveman, a crossbow guy and a stubby rubber one eyed monster. Think of it as a zombie version of the Village People. Yes, this movie is that awesome. Only Natalie, the virgin (she's just not ready), survives the attack. Natalie tells her story to the police but they dismiss the zombies and her six missing friends as a "prank" and leave it at that. But wouldn't six missing teenagers warrant an investigation? Never mind that now.
Since the police can't be bothered, Natalie enlists the help of an outcast classmate and her boyfriend Steven. The three of them set out to track down the maniacs before they kill again. Who are these ghouls and how do they know how to drive a BART train? If water makes them melt then why do they live by the bay? The answers to these questions aren't important. What is important is that the climax takes place at a battle of the bands where the audience is treated to Steven's unique brand of wuss pop.
"Are you guys ready to not rock?"
Neon Maniacs has everything I look for in an 80's B-horror movie. I laughed aloud at the grossly inappropriate elevator music theme song and continued to laugh until the credits rolled. The plot is wholly ridiculous, bordering on the absurd. And yet it takes itself seriously enough and never suffers from the wink-wink self satisfaction that sinks so many of its peers.
