Prom Night

     Yes, I admit it. I love "Prom Night".  Alot.  And don't even start with the hating either.  This movie rocks and it's one of my all-time favorite slashers.  It's impossible to think of the early 80's and not think of "Prom Night"- to me it's right up there with "Risky Business" or "Raiders of the Lost Ark".  This is quintessential 80's slasher in all it's glory, kids.  Jamie Lee Curtis was in prime, scream queen mode when this hit theaters, and her appearance in this, "The Fog", and "Terror Train" cemented her status as the ultimate Final Girl.  

     Something about that opening scene with the kids chanting "Kill!  Kill!" in the old school is deliciously creepy and hugely reminiscent of childhood.  The brats gang up on one girl in particular, mercilessly taunting and chasing her.  An accident occurs, resulting in the girls death.  The brats vow to never mention this again and go on with their lives.  We then flash forward 5 years to the day as the kids responsible are now getting ready for the biggest event of the school year, the prom.  And in time-honored slasher fashion, they find themselves stalked by an ax-wielding, masked killer on Prom Night...

      I can't truly put into words my love for "Prom Night". Yes, it's typical slasher fare.  But the director has given this film such a dark and unsettling atmosphere to it- it's truly eerie.  Combined with the sinister phone calls, Paul Zaza's wonderfully scary score (that needs to be released already!), and a mysterious killer wearing a ski mask, and you have one of the most memorable slashers of the 80's.  And it follows the slasher formula perfectly, and that's part of why it's such a joy to watch.

      I'm drawn to this movie like a magnet.  I can't help myself.  I love everything about this movie.   I love that creepy music and those quiet, dark shots of all those empty corridors.  I love the fact that Leslie Nielsen is the principal of Alexander Hamilton High School, and not playing it for intentional laughs.  I love that the masked killer crosses his victims off a list. And I love how Jamie Lee Curtis gives the Travolta a run for his money with a bad-ass disco dance-off that needs to be seen to be believed.  It's pure awesomeness.

     "Prom Night" tends to get a bad rap among hardcore fans, but I'll take this over anything Rob Friggin' Zombie has to offer anyday.  I don't really understand its bad reputation, honestly.  True, there's not a ton of gory killings, but since when is that a requirement for a horror movie?  It's got loads of atmosphere and suspense, which is just fine by me.  If you can get your hands on a decent widescreen print, it's worth it- stay away from that horrid, fullscreen version you can get at K-Mart for $4.  Makes a perfect double feature with "Terror Train" or "The Fog".  Obviously "Prom Night" made an impact on pop culture, as it warranted a remake. And heavily influenced Wes Craven's "Scream".  It deserves more credit, and I think it's finally starting to find its audience.

April Fool's Day

     APRIL FOOL'S DAY is one of my absolute, all-time favorite slashers, kids. Words cannot express my love and devotion to this film. So much to love here, as it's from the producers of the first four FRIDAY THE 13TH films- and it does have that special feel to it. There are some decent scares, some great atmosphere, the acting is above average, and the script is far more clever and amusing than your typical slasher, not to mention it  has Deborah Foreman (VALLEY GIRL, WAXWORK) and Amy Steel (FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2), who help make this movie. This film would not work without these two actresses, and that's a testament to their talents.

        Deborah plays heiress Muffy St. John, a known prankster who has invited her college buds up to her summer island home for the weekend. Of course, being on an island, they find themselves isolated and alone until the following Monday, when the ferry makes its return. And being college kids, the obvious pranks and jokes ensue- but soon the weekend takes a dark, scary turn as people actually start to disappear. Kit, played by the marvelous Amy Steel, is our tough and no-nonsense final girl here once again, and she quickly gets her Scooby-Doo on to unravel the mystery of Muffy and her mysterious island house.  All the while desperately trying to stay alive while everyone around her starts to drop dead...

     What sets this one apart from most run-of-the-mill slashers is that it's actually more of a mystery in the same vein as Agatha Christine's "Ten Little Indians"- and not just an excuse to get a bunch of people together to kill them off. Lots of red herrings and clues abound- is there really a homicidal maniac loose on the island, or is it all just an elaborate April Fool's joke? APRIL FOOL'S DAY is not quite a spoof of slashers, but yet it's not quite serious either... And that's what's refreshing about it- it gleefully sends up every slasher cliche in the book, yet still manages to throw in some good, solid scares along the way.  There's soooooo much to love in APRIL FOOL'S DAY!  

     Deborah Foreman's performance, for one.  She's spectacularly chilling and she kills it here. Her character and mannerisms are 100% unnerving- her off kilter speech patterns, her blank stares- you really believe her acting. She comes across as truly insane and in my opinion it's one of the great performances of the 80's. Amy Steel kicked ass in FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 and is just as awesome in this- why she never became a full-tilt-boogie scream queen is a cryin' shame. Love her! In my opinion, APRIL FOOL'S DAY could just possibly be one of the coolest and most intelligent of all the 80's slashers. It's extremely well-written, the characters are very likable, the film moves along at a great pace, and never lags for a second. Director Fred Walton makes the most of the material here, and fellow actors Deborah Goodrich, Clayton Rohner, Thomas F. Wilson, Ken Olandt, Leah Pinsent, and Griffin O'Neal are all outstanding in their respective roles and truly round out a remarkable cast.

     APRIL FOOL'S DAY came along at an interesting time in the 80's. This was when scary movies didn't feel the need to bombard us with big-name stars. These days directors feel the need to throw in as many big names as possible, which can be distracting. APRIL FOOL'S DAY wisely avoids that, and instead gives us a handful of talented character actors who make the most of the material they're given. The film sounds great as well, as Charles Bernstein, who also did the score to the original A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, delivers an eerie and wonderful soundtrack. As the wonderful tagline for the film says, it's certainly a 'cut' above the rest...

    

Phantasm

      I remember "Phantasm" being very scary as a kid.  I hadn't seen it since about '83 or '84, so I decided to give it a whirl recently.  While not being near as scary as I remembered, there are still some definitely creepy moments waiting in "Phantasm".  It' such a strange scary movie- and actually kinda silly in parts.  But I can see how it's gained it's reputation as a bona fide cult classic.  

     "Phantasm" goes something like this.  Mike, a  young boy who recently lost his parents, suffers from vivid and terrifying nightmares.  Amidst all this, he uncovers a plot at the local Morningside Cemetery and Funeral Home by a mysteriously tall mortuary worker (Angus Scrimm), who steals corpses and turns them into dwarf-like servants for an alien world.  I'm serious here. That's really is the plot of "Phantasm"...  It sounds ludicrous, but director Don Coscarelli makes it all work somehow.  There are some great, eerie scenes in this movie, and Angus Scrimm makes an unforgettable horror icon with the Tall Man.  The mortuary itself is creepy, and so are the scenes involving the little robed creatures that resemble evil Jawas from "Star Wars".  "Phantasm" borders on high camp at times, especially the blond lady in the cemetery and the infamous flying sphere.  But silliness aside, "Phantasm" has gained a tremendous amount of fan support and is considered a legendary horror movie.  The movie does venture into all-out hallucinatory weirdness after a certain point, and it's kind of off-putting for some.  But there's lots to enjoy about this movie.  It's a surprisingly artful and imaginative little thriller with more than enough genuine shocks.

     It's a definite cult classic, very much like "The Evil Dead" cult, with fans taking "Phantasm" very seriously.  It is a fun movie to watch, especially with the right group of people.  Once again, it's a testament to what you can do with a very low budget and lots of imagination.  If only half the movies released today had this much imagination... "Phantasm" came from that last, great rush of classic 70's horror cinema- the likes of which may never be seen again...  The 70's produced some of the greatest horror movies evah, you know....

THE YEAR IN HORROR- 1985

Interesting note- "A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge" and "Fright Night" both ooze homo-erotic overtones...

The Stepford Wives

     One of my favorite cult classics of the 70's is "The Stepford Wives"- the infamous shocker based on Ira Levin's delightfully diabolical novel.  It tells the story of Joanna Eberhart, a big city photographer who reluctantly moves with her family to Stepford, Connecticut- a small, picture-card perfect town that seems too good to be true.  She soon discovers a terrifying secret in Stepford, and that's where the fun begins.

      The women, all glowing in beautiful gowns, act very strange- as if they all wandered off the set of a television commercial.  They seem rather spacey, and very fixated on cleaning, cooking, and other "wifely" duties.  Joanna, a die-hard feminist, feels completely out of place amongst the strange Stepford Wives.  She luckily ends up meeting wacky Bobby (perfectly played by Paula Prentiss), who is a proud lazy slob when it comes to housekeeping.  The two end up banding together as they soon discover the sinister plot behind the Stepford Men's Association, which their husbands have recently joined...

      The movie is a razor sharp look at the Women's Lib controversy of the early 70's. It's smart and sly.  But underneath the slyness, there is a definite eerie vibe to the movie.  Director Brian Forbes purposefully chose bright colors and lots of white, cheery scenes to create a "thriller in sunlight"- which counteracts with the dark elements of the story.  And it works perfectly here.  "The Stepford Wives" has atmosphere for days, and has rightfully earned a place in the annals of 70's horror cult classics.

     This is a movie that does require a little something called an attention span, and offers no blood or gore, if that's what gets you off,  But if you're looking for a restrained, eerie little movie, then this is the one for you.  "The Stepford Wives" is a gem to watch, as it slowly and suspensefully builds to its chilling and unforgettable climax.

     The term "Stepford Wife" has became a staple in pop culture,  but sadly many people have never experienced the movie.  It did spawn two sequels and a terrible remake-  and boy, when I say terrible, I mean terrible.  I was appalled...   Like "Rosemary's Baby" (which Ira Levin also wrote), "The Stepford Wives" is quietly haunting and takes its time getting under your skin. And once it does you'll never forget it.  An infamous horror classic!

THE YEAR IN HORROR- 2000