MAD HEIDI (2023)
“Mad Heidi,” a 2023 Swissploitation action-horror-comedy directed by Johannes Hartmann and Sandro Klopfstein, reimagines the classic Heidi tale as a gory grindhouse epic. Set in a dystopian Switzerland under the fascist rule of cheese tyrant President Meili (Casper Van Dien), who outlaws non-state cheese and executes the lactose intolerant, the film follows Heidi (Alice Lucy), a free-spirited mountain girl. Living with her grandfather Alpöhi (David Schofield) and lover Goat Peter (Kel Matsena), Heidi’s idyllic life shatters when Peter’s illegal goat cheese trade draws the wrath of Kommandant Knorr (Max Rüdlinger). After Peter’s brutal execution and Alpöhi’s death in a firefight, Heidi is captured and sent to a women’s prison run by the sadistic Warden Rottweiler (Katja Kolm).
Tortured but unbroken, Heidi escapes with fellow prisoner Klara (Almar G. Sato) and trains with ninja nuns, wielding a halberd and donning a sexed-up alpine dress. Her quest for vengeance becomes a rebellion against Meili’s dairy dictatorship, climaxing in a Thunderdome-style battle against “The Neutral-izer” and a splatter-heavy showdown where heads roll and bodies split, often via Swiss-themed weapons like cowbells and Toblerone. Meili’s Ultra Swiss cheese, turning users into zombie soldiers, fuels the chaos, but Heidi’s axe-swinging fury dismantles his regime.
Crowdfunded with $2 million from 560 backers, the film’s practical gore, vibrant sets, and Van Dien’s scenery-chewing performance amplify its campy charm. Critics praise its over-the-top violence and witty clichés—like fondue torture—though some note uneven pacing and a slow start (Rotten Tomatoes: 89%). A love letter to ’70s exploitation, it blends Kill Bill revenge with Planet Terror absurdity, earning cult status for its bloody, cheesy romp. Streamable on madheidi.com, it’s a must for midnight movie fans.