Roger Corman's output from the 50s to early 80s tend to be well known by buffs in part because they were released theatrically and often made by people who went on to better things. From the early 80s onwards he aimed more at straight to video and his alumni became less distinguished.
This is one of the better known entries - in part because it was a hit and kicked off a cycle of films set around strip clubs, which still continues today (eg After Midnight), in part because it was directed by a woman, Katt Shea, who had a brief vogue with the critics in the early 90s.
And Shea does a pretty good job, as a director and writer (she wrote it with Andy Ruben). The basic idea is very strong: a female cop goes undercover as a stripper, to track down a serial killer of strippers. The end twist is good too (spoilers) - it's a guy who impersonates a stripper. I didn't pick it. It is transphobic but it is a solid twist.
I'm trying not to be too smart-arse-y here but you can tell it's from a female director, I feel. The stripping numbers are filmed more like dance numbers. The female characters have more dimension - there are scenes of friendship as well as rivalry among the dancers. There are many lecherous men.
The star is Kay Lenz who looked vaguely familiar - she was in Corman's Moving Violation. She is introduced a little late in the story - I think they would've been better off having her straight away. She's older than you might expect (she was 34) but it adds to the believability of the story.
TV stars Greg Evigan (as her partner and love interest) and Norman Fell (as the red herring club owner) pop up.
Sometimes this is flat and, to be honest, from my shallow point of view, could have done with more sexiness, or at least what I feel is sexy - for instance a lesbian love scene is shot rather perfunctorily rather than erotically (or, like I say, what I feel is erotic). But there are good moments and the last third is very strong.
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