The story behind this wrestling/zombie mashup began way back in 2006, when the film started a 42-day shoot that ended up spanning over six months. A true guerrilla effort, FPU was filmed with no director of photography, no editor, no sound designer, and no access to post-production facilities, all on a budget of less than $5,000. These and other difficulties led to an interminable seven years of post-production, and once the resources ran out, the film had to be shelved indefinitely.
Shortly after this, Armstrong scored a cult hit with MurderDrome, the World's First Roller Derby Slasher Movie, which headlined Melbourne's Monster Fest in 2013 and earned distribution Down Under, as well as in New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, the USA, and Canada. The success of the movie gave the director enough clout to rebuild FPU from scratch.
The film stars UK-based singer Jenna Dwyer, Elke Osadnik, Emma-Louise Wilson (ABC Australia's Utopia) and champion kickboxer Sarah Howett, AKA Viper from Aussie TV's Gladiators. The official synopsis is as follows:
From Parts Unknown: Fight Like a Girl tells the story of Charlie. After watching her daddy die in the ring, she sets out to become a wrestler in his memory. The only things stopping her are a disapproving boyfriend, a demanding day job, and a soul-crushing boss - whose corporate shenanigans threaten to unleash hordes of zombies upon the Earth! Charlie has no choice but to open up a can of whoop-ass and take these murderous Jabronis for a stroll down Smack Down Boulevard!
For all those genre fiends and wrestling enthusiasts based in Victoria, FPU will host its premiere screening at the Thornbury Theatre on 10 January 2015. Strongman Pictures has partnered with Professional Championship Wrestling Entertainment (PCWe) for a night of chokeholding fun alongside Melbourne pop/punk foursome The Mercy Kills. Tickets can be purchased here: http://thornburytheatre.oztix.com.au/?Event=47438
In the meantime, you can catch a glimpse of the zombie body-slamming madness in the trailer below.