The Slumber Party Massacre

Routine early 80’s slasher in the Los Angeles burbs The original script was written as a parody, but that was changed when production began and it was shot as a serious slasher. Perhaps this explains why I busted out laughing on at least four occasions. The amusing pizza-eating scene and the refrigerator sequence are good examples. Despite this, “The Slumber Party Massacre” (1981) IS a serious slasher flick featuring the ‘driller killer’ and it’s pretty well-done. The problem is, there’s an unimaginative bluntness to the proceedings and the final act isn’t all that compelling (I found my mind wandering a couple of times). The female cast is decent, but not quite as good as in the Friday the 13th movies. Diane (Gina Smika Hunter, aka Gina Mari) is arguably the best, followed by the black chick. The movie is short & sweet at 77 minutes and was shot entirely in Los Angeles with the neighborhood sequences filmed in Venice. GRADE: C

Which one was this? I can't really remember. I do, however, know it was the movie where they hire a lot of women and require them all to take their clothes off. The difference is, this one was written by a feminist for reasons probably only she can explain. I recall a shower scene in there somewhere. And then I remember the women running around screaming in undies that are really only worn in the bedroom. Was there a plot? Not really, it was just an excuse for nudity and undies. But, you already knew all of that when you sat down to watch this. Because, honestly in film making, they aren't really trying to pass it off as anything other than an excuse to film young naked breasts and you don't really get anything but that. So, why are you reading this? You know exactly what this movie is about. You knew that before you even clicked on this review. But, at least the review is as honest as the movie. If you are expecting more than that, there is something seriously wrong with you.

Nothing real stand out about another slasher born out of the success of Halloween (and Friday the 13th, which was made for the same reason), but still watchable enough. **2.75/5**

The Slumber Party Massacre is the feminist slasher that laid the groundwork for everything Scream would later get praised for. Written by feminist author Rita Mae Brown, it takes the typical slasher formula—a half-naked woman, a deranged killer with a power drill—and flips it on its head. The phallic drill and gratuitous nudity are there, but in such an exaggerated manner that it becomes a brilliant satire on the male gaze. This isn't your average damsel-in-distress flick; it's a bloody middle finger to the male-dominated horror machine, with women banding together to fight back. The film's influence on later works is a testament to its enduring legacy and the knowledge it imparts to film enthusiasts.