The Verge reviews John De Hart’s ‘Champagne and Bullets’ as a cult classic of bad cinema
A 90-minute runtime packed with 12 minutes of sex scenes and erratic plotlines defines the latest entry in the ‘so bad they’re good’ genre.
The Verge has published a review of Champagne and Bullets, categorising the 90-minute film as a cult classic of bad cinema. The publication compares the movie’s status to notorious outsider titles such as The Room, Troll 2, and Fateful Findings, noting that it belongs on the “Mount Rushmore of bad movies.” The review highlights the film’s poor production values, awkward performances, and excessive gratuitous content.
The film is described as being almost entirely the work of John De Hart, who wrote, directed, and starred as the character Rick Bode. De Hart also performs a musical number titled “The Shimmy Slide,” during which he reportedly appeared stiff due to being under the influence of painkillers after throwing out his back. The review notes that this lifeless performance is not the most awkward scene in the movie, with character interactions described as inexplicable and unnatural.
The plot follows Bode and his partner Huck Finney, who lose their police badges early in the film. This event precipitates Finney’s rapid mental decline, which includes firing a handgun through bills, drinking bleach, and starting a cult. A significant portion of the narrative concerns Bode’s former girlfriend, Cindy, played by Pamela Bryant, who is fleeing a satanic coven that allegedly sacrificed a human baby.
While ostensibly an action film, the review notes that fight scenes are sparse and lack believability. Instead, the film contains approximately 12 minutes of sex scenes across three sequences, set to songs sung by De Hart. One scene involving a jacuzzi reportedly led De Hart’s girlfriend at the time to end their relationship. The review also warns that one scene depicts sexual assault.
The film is currently available for streaming on Hoopla, Amazon Prime, and Tubi. The Verge suggests that fans of bad movies, cult classics, or the podcast How Did This Get Made should watch the film to experience its unique blend of ambition and poor execution.
