Review of The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) by Bloodmarsh K — 19 Oct 2011

Egh, like I believe the weapon represents the hatred towards the v----a.

-someone parodying someone else.

==Pointless Prologue==.

Yes, I bought this movie and enjoyed it enough to say I recommend it. The plot has a killer with a power drill killing young girls in skimpy outfits. There's not a lot to go over if you haven't seen this film yet, so go look for it. Now, it's just me, the folks who have seen it, and the people that are not interested and will never watch it.

Slumber Party Massacre, I bought this at Borders as the store is getting ready to close for good. I had really interesting experience purchasing this film as the cashier was a female. She gave no apologetic gestures of irreverence to me and Ivan as the customers. Ivan and I came to the conclusion that she was angry at the possibility of her losing her job or the fact that we had un-apologetically purchased a perverted looking film. With that said, I had expectations and anticipations to enjoying the film on certain level of nudity and violence of course. I was pretty intrigued this film was made by feminist writer Rita Brown and Amy Holden Jones as I wonder what they could bring to the table. Well, there are pretty much a lot of phallic references between the killer and his weapon. Second, the film centers a girl's fear of sex and male reproductive organs while switching gender roles in horror films. Women are given empowerment, so therefore they must be punished with death. At least that's how the killer sees it. The soundtrack to the film is pretty decent as it sets up a mood. This looks all too good, but I was not too impressed with this flick. However, I couldn't help myself in indulging the visuals that came across. There is no suspense whatsoever in this film except for the closing and could not really get into the characters. Another problem with this flick was the attempt to blend humor and horror. I don't have a problem with it, but I did not laugh at the jokes the film has. They look nice and all, but the problem is I have seen other films that have blended the two subjects and come out hilarious. There is a lot of meaning between objects and actions in the film that may amuse you more or less. There is one example that I love and that's the role of the basketball coach. In trouble, don't call the police, call your basketball coach.

==Plot==.

My apologies for not providing a huge plot description because I don't think there's any need for one. Look at the cover of the film, that's your plot description.

Well, the film starts off with a regular day and life of a teenage girl, Trish. Two characters are focused: Trish and Robin. They go to school and play basketball. Trish has her group of friends and are having a slumber party, but Robin doesn't attend because she is disliked by some of the peers, Dianne. All the girls come to the slumber party except for Linda and telephone repair lady because they are killed off by Russ Thorn. Thorn is a murderer that has escaped from who knows what. Two sissy and tacky guys decide to crash in and watch the girls. Everyone is unaware of the danger, so let the party start and bodies fall!

==How to Review==.

I did not know how to review this film. Should I disregard the plot and just on a rant or just talk about Martians from Outer Space? I look at the cover of the film and think "trash". I look around and remember reading Men, Women, and Chain Saws by Carol Clover. She cites Joe Bob Briggs and think, of course! I'll review it like he does* only his reviews confuse me. He focuse on what a film provides like: we got 3 breasts on display, 5 gallons of blood, a lot of one liner, and plenty of severed limbs! I give this film 3 decapitation! I think okay, that means it's good, right? However, his ratings confuse me because it doesn't describe if the films is good. Some of ratings go like this: 7 severed fingers, 2 eye gouges with bony fingers, 5 eviscerations, and 1 head explosion by a shotgun, 10 throat slits, and on and on. I don't understand if the film is good or not. Is it measured by blood or the pain? I don't get it!

==Review==.

What can I say about Slumber Party Massacre? At one point, I drop my seriousness and said whatever. I just watched it for fun. My level of expected satisfication of nudity, lingerie, blood, and cheesiness was satisfied. I was hoping for the line: no! Not the drill! Disappointingly, it is never said in the flick, but oh well. The victims cower and say no, but it is the sissy and tacky boys that are most apparent. What did I said sissies and tacky? Well, they are! Their fashion is terrrible and they are wusses which is punishable with death. Looking at their characters, this is an attempt for self-reflective check among male audiences. I was never uncomfortable when their deaths occur, and I was fond of their deaths come to think about it. The girls, I love a few of the girls in the flick like Kimberly, Linda, Trish, and Robin. Anyways, the girls mostly go for cover, but some do fight back. There's a scene where Russ is knocked down and the girls do gang up on him. The killer Russ Thorn (Michael Villella) is so-so because he's not really intimidating, but I did like Villella's attempt to put a personality to this twisted man. First, Thorn has a lot of body language when the camera lets us see him. It is suggesting there is madness behind that bloody face of his. Also, I noticed, when he is on the prowl, he struts around like a peacock. I was intriguide by this. I believe most of them are ashamed of staring in this film even though there is nothing shameful about it. There is some decent lighting and camera work along with some pretty cool kills and nice ending, but is this film a female empowerment? Not exactly.

==Girl Power==.

Slumber Party Massacre has been mistakenly as women empowerment depending on who you talk to. There are feminist, based on my perception, themes in the film at times like women having a masculine role than their males cast and being independent workers, but they're killed off which is equivalent to its slasher contemporaries. However, there is a beautiful symbolic castration, but the only things women are liberated from are their pants in this film. Another symbolic scene is where the girls' gang up on the killer, but I don't Brown and Jones meant it as women, unite! There is also beauty and pride in the female body during a scorching shower scene. Well, to be fair, Jones states that producer Roger Corman expected nudity in the films, so there's that.

==Murder Set Pieces==.

I bought the Slumber Party Massacre collection which may differ to other versions because the one I purchase is filled with all kinds of great features. It is a two disc DVD loaded with trailers, stills, posters, interviews, documentaries, booklets, and a lot more! Unsatisfied with this film (?) you have the option to see the other two sequels in disc two for 2/3 or 1/3 liking. The only thing missing is subtitles for either film. I enjoyed watching the beautiful extras for the DVD and happy to have purchased the flick for fifteen dollars. I enjoyed the booklet because it gives tells us info about the three films and has a list of rip offs that came afterwards. Some of those films listed are now my list to watch.

==Final Stab==.

In the end, Slumber Party Massacre may not be a hilarious parody nor the feminist statement viewers are hoping for, but it is what it is: a gratuitous, but an enjoyable slasher film. I had great privileged to see this film and enjoy the visual aspects even though the jokes and humor of the flick did not really surprise me. I recommend buying this film and hope it's the collection. Once you have it, make popcorn and ah screw it, grab a drill and start drilling!

Slumber Party Massacre 2.

Slumber Party Massacre 3.

· Actually, I'm parodying his review style.

· Also, since the review for the collection is not present, I will review the other. What do I have to say about? We will find out!