Ep 15. Zombie Nightmare

In the 15th episode of season 6 of Mystery Science Theater 3000, the gang settles in for the horror flick 'Zombie Nightmare.' The movie follows high school baseball player Jim, who is killed by a group of joyriders. But his mother makes a deal with the devil to bring him back to life, and he returns as a vengeful zombie, seeking revenge on those who wronged him. The crew of the Satellite of Love is ready to riff on this cheesy 80s flick with their trademark witty commentary and pop culture references.

As the movie opens, the gang immediately starts cracking jokes at the expense of the low-budget production and the overacting of the film's teenage protagonists. Crow T. Robot provides an endless supply of one-liners as the group watches Jim's resurrection scene, with quips ranging from "Is this what happens when you die playing baseball?" to "I always thought dying in a stolen car would be more fun."

Despite the film's attempts at horror, the writing and acting are ripe for ridicule, and the MST3K team takes full advantage. The bizarre casting choices, such as the appearance of Adam West as a small-town cop, provide ample material for the hilarious running commentary. The film also features an inexplicable subplot involving Jim's father and his boxing career, which only adds to the absurdity of the overall experience.

As the zombie Jim exacts his revenge on those responsible for his death, the crew continues to poke fun at the film's poorly executed special effects. Crow takes particular delight in mocking the low-budget gore, including a scene in which a character's heart is ripped out of their chest. "That's not how anatomy works!" he exclaims.

Throughout the episode, the gang proves that they are masters of pop culture references and quick wit. When the zombie Jim attacks a guitar store, Tom Servo quips, "I guess he really wanted to shred." When Adam West's character is on screen, Crow muses, "It's like he's Batman without the Karate Kid's balance." These witty asides are a hallmark of the show and keep viewers engaged even during the most poorly executed scenes of the film.

One plot point that the MST3K crew cannot help but mention is the film's use of music from Heavy Metal band Motorhead. While they express appreciation for the band, they ridicule the decision to include their music in such a low-budget film. "Motorhead is the lifeblood of this movie," Tom Servo exclaims. "Without them, it's just a bunch of people awkwardly staring at each other."

As the film reaches its conclusion, the crew continues to provide a steady stream of humor, even as the plot descends into utter chaos. When another character is killed, Crow exclaims, "Every time someone dies, Metallica's 'One' begins playing in my head." Even as the credits roll, the gang continues to riff on the film, with Mike quipping, "It's like a graveyard stuffed with meat."

Overall, Mystery Science Theater 3000's take on Zombie Nightmare is another hilarious episode in a long-running series of cult favorites. With its sharp wit and endless pop culture references, the show manages to turn even the most poorly executed films into fodder for laughter. Fans of the show will delight in this episode's non-stop humor and the gang's spot-on observations about this cheesy 80s horror flick.