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Women’s Studies (DVD) Stars: Cindy Marie Martin, Tara Garwood, Melisa Breiner-Sanders, Laura Bloechl, Mundy Spears, James A. Radack and Judith O'Dea Director/Scriptwriter: Lonnie Marshall Ningen Manga Productions/R-Squared Films Rating: no rating but could be R for violence and language Running Length: 90 minutes It is not unusual to have a storyline about a group of people trying to change the world. It is usually men who try to dominate and that is not what is approached in this film by Lonnie Marshall. Rather tongue-in-cheek, the plot is based on the idea of having car problems in a remote area and going to the nearest place for help, which happens to be a gated private school---for girls, that is. The film begins with a bloodied young woman stumbling down a road and entering a nearby chapel for help. Then we go to a group of woman heading for a conference, and one boyfriend (James A. Radack) in the mix. The car breaks down, they go to the nearest place for help, cell phones don’t work, and they are invited to stay the night. It is an all-girl school with a headmistress resembling a Luftwaffe officer. We get to meet the girls at the school and the members of the stranded group. Slowly secrets come out, a pregnant girl is there, another who discovers she is pregnant, relationships start to crumble and that circle of stones in the woods doesn’t look natural. This scenario alternates with a strip club that comes alive at a moment’s notice and any guy who enters better be ready to run. By this time, you want the stranded group to get out of there in a hurry, but the enticement has begun. Women’s Studies gives the women of the school a story to tell of male abuse and rape before they found help. This rage is turned outward to destroy men in subtle ways. The stranded group has their share of problems, too, and choices have to be made. There is plenty of violence in the film, some by implication. The movie has good photography and production values. The woman we follow throughout is Mary (Cindy Marie Martin) and the woman who is trying to change her is Tara Garwood (“The Invasion.”) Mary is confronted with situations she doesn’t understand at first and when she does, her facial expression is well done. Garwood goes from friendly to evil in a moment’s notice and does fight scenes well. Good vs. evil and who will win? Mundy Spears is noted as a pregnant woman who is protective of her child and Laura Bloechl’s “Iris,” does an effective turn as a girl under the control of her father. As the male lead, James A. Radack highlights each scene he is in. Judith O’Dea is a senator who has the best toss away line of the film. All in all, Women’s Studies resembles an Outer Limits plot where unruly boys are sent to a military academy to be shaped in new beliefs and politics. _Women’s Studies_ is along the same road, but with a bit of horror thrown in that gives the word "family" new meaning. The end credits are intriguing. Copyright 2010 Marie Asner
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