It's a problem that's plagued humanity for eons: to regift or not to regift? No matter what your stance is on this hotly debated topic, it's probably a safe assumption that regifting uhm adult personal products is a line that should definitely not be crossed. This is a point that's driven home with chillingly hilarious results in The Vibranator, the debut short film from Baltimore-based Tepid Fish Productions.
The story starts out not-so-innocently enough: girl meets dildo, girl spurns dildo, dildo ends up in the trash. But girl finds out soon enough that it's not that simple - this malevolent masturbatory aide won't take no for an answer and it's bent (no double entendre intended) on mayhem! (Cue ominous sound effects.)
What follows is ten minutes of some priceless slasher-film spoofing, replete with all the hackneyed elements: the obligatory shower scene, the unstoppable nemesis, the compulsory "fumbling for the car keys" shot, and a chase sequence that will make you unable to listen to Melanie's "Brand New Key" ever again (presuming, of course, that you could in the first place). Why bother dropping five bucks at Blockbuster for the latest installment in the Leprechaun saga when you can watch The Vibranator and get all the same plot twists in 1/10th of the time?
I won't spoil the ending for you, but I will tell you that it involves both a slow motion explosion and shameless use of the F-word. Now really, what more could you ask for?!? Wait, I know a sequel! I can see it now: The Vibranator Meets The Hand. Quick, get Michael Caine's agent on the phone!
Ben Frazier
TEPID FISH PRODUCTIONS: Visit www.tepidfish.com for details on the fishes, upcoming projects and info on how to order your copy of The Vibranator (currently available in VHS format only).

Questions answered
U.S. SCREENINGS of THE VIBRANATOR
- October 20, 2002 CAMM SLAMM, Baltimore, MD www.creativealliance.org
- November 3, 2002 MICROCINEFEST, Baltimore, MD www.microcinefest.org
- December 7, 2002 CREATIVE ALLINCE, Baltimore, MD www.creativealliance.org
- February 7, 2003 CAMM SLAMM RE-RUN, Baltimore, MD www.creativealliance.org
- March 20-23, 2003 LADYFEST PHILLY, Philadelphia, PA www.ladyfestphilly.org
- April 3-5, 2003 HI MOM! FILM FESTIVAL, Carrboro/Chapel Hill, NC www.himomfilmfest.org
- April 23, 24 & May 1,2, 2003 1st ANNUAL SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, QUEER FILM FESTIVAL, Chicago, IL www.5sps.com/queer.html
- April (TBA), 2003, CHARM CITY KITTY CLUB, Baltimore, MD www.creativealliance.org