Here's something that should keep you up at night: there is exactly one horror film made specifically for Earth Day, and it was directed by someone named Mister Ooh-La-La.
I am not joking.
Earth Day (2009) is a low-budget horror-comedy about a group of ex eco-crusaders who get picked off one by one as the anniversary of their friend Pixie's death rolls around. How did Pixie die? Rednecks ran over her head with a vehicle while she was out protecting a tree. Honestly, as far as horror movie inciting incidents go, that's got more layers than it deserves to. You've got environmental activism, you've got rural vs. activist culture clash, and you've got a woman named Pixie dying for an oak. I respect it.
The film was written, produced, and directed entirely by Mister Ooh-La-La — which, as far as I can tell, is his only film. Whoever you are, sir or madam, you absolute wild card: I see you. The cast includes the wonderfully named Daphne Danger, along with Adrian Salge, Gaylord Walker, Bruce Lundy, and Elizabeth Myers. These are real human people with real human names (except possibly Daphne Danger, who I choose to believe was born that way).
People compare this one to Troma, and that's really the only compass you need. If you've ever loved Toxic Avenger or Class of Nuke 'Em High, you know exactly what you're signing up for: cheap, gory, self-aware, and having the time of its life. Earth Day sits right in that tradition. It's not trying to be Hereditary. It's trying to be Earth Day, and it succeeds at that completely.
Here's what gets me, though. Earth Day is April 22nd. It comes around every single year. Millions of people observe it. And the horror genre — a genre that has dedicated entire franchises to Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and even New Year's Eve — has produced exactly one film for the occasion, and it's a regional indie with a 4.8 on IMDb that you have to hunt down on Amazon. Filmmakers, I am begging you. The material writes itself. Killer compost. Sentient recycling bins. A slasher in a hemp onesie. Get it together.
Until then, Earth Day (2009) is carrying the whole holiday on its back. Give it some credit. Mister Ooh-La-La himself made the full movie available at https://youtu.be/ZD_loGi6G9I?si=Uv0D7pFeKv2vCm5G
