Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988) Film Review – An Imp Named Slickback

Posted on by Jim Cox

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Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (also known as The Imp in the UK) is a 1988 American B-movie horror comedy written by Sergi Hasenecz, directed by David DeCoteau, and released by Full Moon Features. Beginning his career working with B-movie legend Roger Corman, DeCoteau has gone on to direct over 190 feature films, including Creepozoids (1987), Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge (1991), and Wolves of Wall Street (2002). In comparison, this title is the only film in writer Sergi Hasenecz’s filmography.

Three college nerds sneak into the Tri-Delta sorority to spy on the initiation of new pledges, but are caught red-handed. The pledges must go to the local bowling alley and steal a trophy, aided by the unwelcome peeping toms. While attempting to steal their prize, an accident causes the trophy to break, releasing an evil imp who then begins wreaking havoc among the teenagers.

Delivering the tongue-in-cheek narrative expected of 80s B-movie horror comedies, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama utilises its relatively thin plot to convey a wildly over-the-top mix of campy horror elements and exaggerated character archetypes in a hilariously unserious supernatural romp. While there is a sincere effort to include some horror, its fluctuating tone (often within a single scene) frequently causes the film to lean into its comedic elements. However, this isn’t necessarily a negative, as its playful nature provides plenty of (cheap) laughs throughout.

Employing a remarkably high level of cinematography for a B-movie, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama‘s camera work, provided by Stephen Ashley Blake, exemplifies high production value on a limited budget. Featuring a variety of camera movements, the film cleverly utilises the constraints of a single camera on set to enhance rather than hinder the visual storytelling.

Similarly, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama’s SFX are impressively executed, given its modest budget. Most of its blood and gore is achieved through camera tricks, such as applying fake blood to actors or using basic makeup. The puppetry, however, truly stands out, with the Imp puppet displaying impressive articulation of limbs and naturalistic movements of the eyes, mouth, and ears, lending a lifelike and animated presence.

The performances are functional, with the limited cast making the most of their character archetypes. Beloved B-movie actress Linnea Quigley shines as Spider, a rebellious delinquent, effectively playing against her usual scream queen roles. The film’s standout performance, however, comes from Michael Sonye (also known as Dukey Flyswatter), voicing the Imp. His portrayal of the mischievous creature is characterised by exaggerated hammy acting, full of witty quips and terrible puns.

A classic from the golden era of Full Moon Productions, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama is a quintessential example of horror comedy from an era that produced some of the best films in the genre. With surprisingly competent cinematography, inventive puppetry, and decent performances, the film remains an enjoyably cheesy monster movie that will delight fans of 80s B-movies and low-budget horror comedies alike.

Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama (1988) is available to preorder on Blu-ray from 101 Films’ website here (available from January 12th 2026).

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