Tags
1980's, Amy Holden Jones, Andree Honore, David Millbern, Debra Deliso, Gina Smika, Horror, Jennifer Meyers, Joseph Alan Johnson, Michael Villella, Michelle Michaels, Robin Stille, The Slumber Party Massacre
Film Title
The Slumber Party Massacre
Director
Amy Holden Jones
Starring
- Michelle Michaels as Trish
- Robin Stille as Valerie
- Michael Villella as Russ Thorn
- Debra Deliso as Kim
- Andree Honore as Jackie
- Gina Smika as Diane
- Jennifer Meyers as Courtney
- Joseph Alan Johnson as Neil
- David Millbern as Jeff
A slasher from the 80’s, The Slumber Party Massacre delivers on the fun, gore and added use of humour for a quick and gleeful horror.
18-year-old high school senior Trish is planning a slumber party, as her parents will be out-of-town for a time. She invites the other girls on the basketball team; Diane, Kim and Jackie. There is also the shy Valerie, who is the new girl in school and not quite in with the others. Trish invites her, but she declines due to the bitchy remarks of snobby Diane. Valerie it so happens lives in the house next door to the party, and tonight she is babysitting her younger sister Courtney, who is more than a bit of a handful at the best of times. As the party next door gets into full swing with smoking, drinking and gossiping, what no one expected is that there is an escaped mad man named Russ Thorn on the loose. He murdered at least five people years before, and now armed with a drill, looks like he’s about to add to that tally. The girls and also the two guys who crash the party are now in the cross hairs of his bloody minded carnage. In the end, Valerie is drawn over to the house due to curiosity and the fact that she suspects something is amiss. It is here when she must take charge and fight Russ Thorn before any more bodies hit the ground as a result of his gory handiwork.
Much has been made of this film being directed by a woman and the screenplay also. A lot of the debate centres on the fact that the horror genre has been called out in the past for what many see as being misogynistic and cruel treatment of women. Yet Amy Holden Jones as director does a very good job at this slightly atypical slasher. For one she has a good eye for camera shots and when to use periods of silence for suspense. She takes the largely simple and straightforward plot and bumps it up a few notches, with some very good results being gained. Yes the film contains nudity and ladies in skimpy-clothing in the way many would expect from a horror film. But it is something that often appears in slashers and shouldn’t really be held against the film. Jones knows that there is definite humour in the film and brings that out in good stages that alleviate tension with side swipes and black comedy. The script is by far the most intriguing aspect of The Slumber Party Massacre. Originally it was written as a parody of the slasher genre, but when it came to filming, they decided to play it straight. The clash of these opposite tendencies offers up an unusual mix that surprisingly entertains. The humour, whether intentional or unintentional depending on your view-point, is on the money quite a lot of the time. The scene in which Trish, Kim and Jackie sit and wait armed for action and then Jackie suggests eating the pizza that they ordered( which is positioned right next to the deceased pizza man) is strangely hilarious and eye-rolling. Or the irony of Valerie sat next door watching a horror film and one of the boys frantically knocks at her door, only to be murdered by the driller killer as a character on the television meets a similar outcome. Scenes like this stand out for their satirical nature, that shows that a horror can be fun as well as scary. The choice of a drill as the maniac’s weapon is inventively used for the often gory death scenes( just look at pizza boy with his eyes drilled out of their sockets). Yet it serves another purpose of being a phallic symbol that the girls must combat. Interestingly, at least in my humble opinion, is the fact that many label this film as sexist. If anything, the men who attempt to be macho in the film suffer far more shocking deaths than their female counterparts and by the end, what remains of the ladies know how to dish out violence back against the psycho. Some will take issue anyway with the film, but if you dig deeper there is a lot more to the film than just surface appeal. I’d say The Slumber Party Massacre is more exciting than all out terrifying, though I don’t mean that as a criticism at all as I appreciate it for doing something else. An organ and synth heavy music score brings out the right notes of horror you would expect.
The cast, particularly many of the ladies, are pretty good in their roles and definitely a cut above some of the acting you see in a horror of this nature. Robin Stille stands out as the quiet Valerie, who only by chance and curiosity ventures to the party of the title to discover that it isn’t a night of pleasant fun and games. I liked the naturalness that Stille projected in Valerie, she was grounded and intelligent which is refreshing in a horror girl. Michael Villella plays the drill wielding psychopath with a dark relish and creepy array of facial expressions. The fact that Villella acts it in a very serious manner only adds to the creepiness of the character who knows how to hack and slash. Another point of interest is that this killer doesn’t wear any sort of mask, which for me makes him more frightening as there is nothing to conceal his evil. Jennifer Meyers often steals what time she is in the film as Valerie’s cheeky and bratty sister, who looks for any excuse to bother her older sister. While these three are the particularly stand outs, the others fair pretty well too in this satiric slasher.
Benefiting from the elements of humour present and some effective sequences of inventive death, The Slumber Party Massacre is an enjoyable way to spend your time if you want a horror to view. It won’t challenge you or make you think, but that’s the point, you are there to have a good time which it provides.
beetleypete said:
One for a late night watch on TV by the sound of it mate.
Cheers, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
You said it well Pete. I did however enjoy the bits of humour that it produced in the long run.
LikeLike
The Telltale Mind said:
Glad you enjoyed it. I found it to be a lot of fun too. A little hokey, but good fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I wasn’t expecting some big masterpiece, so I think that helped. And the bits of humour made me laugh, especially the pizza part.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I haven’t seen this Vinnie but it sounds fun.😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Thanks for commenting Kim. Just out of curiosity, what do you think of the sound of the film? Does it sound sexist to you? I’m curious because it is a film that can be quite hotly debated in some quarters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It does sound a little sexist Vinnie, but no different from many of the movies of that genre during the 1980s. Even though the director was a woman, she obviously knew what audiences looked for in that type of movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I appreciate your opinion Kim. There are some moments that are slightly exploitative, but the rest is pretty much head and shoulders above that. I liked hearing your take Kim as a woman. I didn’t want you to think I was some slime ball watching dodgy movies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m glad you asked Vinnie!💁🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I know I’ll get an interesting opinion from you Kim, that’s why I asked. Good to know you don’t think I’m a slime ball watching naughty movies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Never!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
You are a star.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keith said:
Of course I’ve seen this one! LOL. And to no surprise it spawned a handful of sequels too, right? Slashers were in a really funny place back then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I didn’t know there were sequels. Though saying that, the plot is largely simple and could be replicated again and again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dude the cleaner said:
Good one I have not seen this on in
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dude the cleaner said:
ages. I must revisit it again. Nice review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
It’s a fun film to be sure. And good for this time of year as Halloween gets closer.
LikeLike
fragglerocking said:
Are there no movies where hunky 6 pack jocks get hounded by a monster lady?
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I can’t think of any, but I think there should be to make things more level. What are your thoughts on the review?
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
Always the same V-man, never known you do a bad one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
You are most supportive Fraggle. I take it though you don’t find the movie that appealing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
Ker-Ching! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I thought so. Would you have found it entertaining if it was a group of guys?
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
I always find a group of guys entertaining, especially when they’re wearing their baby dolls and curlers. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Haha, oh that comment made me laugh so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
SpeedySailor said:
Nice review and some good points as well. I love films like this and this sounds like one I better watch, pronto.
Milo
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
It’s a great 80’s slasher with a quick pace and some amusing moments. I had a lot of fun with it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
acyathedragon said:
Oh man. I recommend checking out the sequels, especially the second. It’s the very definition of gone ‘Full Retard!’
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I’ve got so many films I’m watching at the minute, so I’ll have to check another time. What did you think of this one?
LikeLiked by 1 person
acyathedragon said:
It was great, of course.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
So much fun as a slasher and a parody.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ninvoid99 said:
I don’t remember seeing this but I do remember seeing some of its sequels and knockoffs which were quite fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Do you remember any of the titles? Would love to see some of them.
LikeLike
ninvoid99 said:
Unfortunately, I don’t. They’re all kind of the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I’ll do some research to check them out then.
LikeLike
keepsmealive said:
I prefer to think, if the brain isn’t engaged by real suspense and tension, the horror is just silly.
That’s a great and suggestive cover art picture, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Yeah, I don’t think this film is for everyone. As you said that poster is pretty memorable. I would suggest seeing this though, to see what you made of it.
LikeLike
Jay said:
You have so much more tolerance for this stuff than I do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Is there any particular reason you don’t like about this stuff?
LikeLike
charlypriest said:
Vinneh!!! My man, I even talk to you as we know each other, but not really talking to you neither I know you neitier…..neither I got a speeder (is that a Word) Anyways, apart that I´m drunk…does it notice much?Anyways you such, that freaking movie is scary so what I´m gonna do is put it to some girl that I don´t like
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I’d say the movie is more fun than scary. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
charlypriest said:
Seems I just scanned then
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Are you usually a fan of horror?
LikeLike
charlypriest said:
Not really, I prefer commedies, thrillers
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I enjoy those too. I’ll watch anything really, as long as the story is good.
LikeLike
charlypriest said:
I actually guide myself by the actors, if I like them “normally” is one that I like, but not always, wich the “not always” one are quite interesting
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I too enjoy certain actors more than others and will watch more movies with them in.
LikeLike
charlypriest said:
I also pay attention to the credits, producers and obviously directors,
Jerry Bruckheimmer ( I probably spelled that last name wrong), but those things I see, take notes, try my best to do my analysis of them movies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I too try and be perceptive of knowing the producer and director, as well as the writer.
LikeLike
charlypriest said:
I know you are
LikeLiked by 1 person
kmSalvatore said:
well written Vin, these flicks are not my cuppa, i guess ive out grown them, but you certainly have managed to bring back alot of memories for me:) one of my first jobs was working at a theater, selling tickets and also selling the popcorn (depending on the day of the week) and i got to see most of these nightmarish movies on the big screen. and well i guess once was a enough :)))
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
That’s a great story, I’m sure you saw some pretty good creepy films. Thanks for taking a look at my review, even though the horror genre isn’t your thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
kmSalvatore said:
Ohh I always manage to make a trip to your reviews, just a bit slower than say Fraggy 🙂 who is one of my best buds you know . Have a great week Vin. Oh and oh yeah do I ever have stories,~lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Never apologise for being slow. Just you reading my reviews whenever you get the chance is great for me. You too have a nice week, you deserve it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
alexraphael said:
That pizza scene sounds hilarious! You make a lot of interesting points as always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
It is pretty funny, in a dark black comedy way. Just the way that she starts eating the pizza and saying that she feels better already, considering there’s a maniac on the loose is hysterical.
LikeLiked by 1 person