By Brent Snyder
It's almost back to school time so here's a list of class-sick slashers that bring carnage on and off campus:
The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) - This superior slasher has an amazing pedigree - produced by Roger Corman, written by Rita Mae Brown (The Long Hot Summer) and directed by Amy Holden Jones (Mystic Pizza). Scary, fun and funny, The Slumber Party Massacre was originally intended as a satire of slasher movies - and became one of the best films of the genre. Starring the dynamic duo of Brinke Stevens and Robin Stille (Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama). Five Stars.
Sorority House Massacre (1986) - Written and directed by Carol Frank, who was assistant to the director on The Slumber Party Massacre, Sorority House Massacre is considered part of a shared Massacre cinematic universe. While not as great overall as Slumber Party Massacre, Sorority House Massacre is fun and filled with clever winks at the audience. Three Stars.
Hell Night (1981) - It's Animal House with a touch of Terror Train mixed with Castle Freak in this fun '80s slasher. Director Tom DeSimone (Savage Streets, Reform School Girls, Angel III) blends elements from the haunted house and slasher genres together with bloody kills, spooky interiors and a homicidal maniac to boot. The flick stars exploitation favorites Linda Blair (The Exorcist) and Vincent Van Patten (Rock n Roll High School). Three Stars.
Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981) - Also known as Thrilled to Death, Momma's Boy and Night Warning, Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker is notorious for having possibly the worst title ever - and being one of the most cringe-inducing films of the slasher genre. The tale of incest, homophobia and homicidal mania stars Susan Tyrrell (Angel), Jimmy McNichol (Smokey Bites the Dust), Julia Duffy (Battle Beyond the Stars), Bo Svenson (Walking Tall II) and a young Bill Paxton (Aliens). Also of note - the film (directed by William Asher of Beach Blanket Bingo fame) is one of Stephen King's favorite drive-in movies. So there. But with all those crappy titles - did no one think of instead using The Ties that Bind ... ? Three Stars.
Pledge Night (1990) - It's Hell Week with a demonic slasher on campus - let the hazing commence! Originally made in 1988 as A Hazing in Hell, it was re-titled and re-released as Pledge Night in 1990. Metal band Anthrax provides the score and lead singer Joey Belladonna appears in a cameo (no spoilers on his role)! Three Stars.
The Mutilator (1984) - Originally titled Fall Break (better title, by the way) the Mutilator is a routine slasher with coed spam-in-a-beach-cabin and a deranged dad out for blood and dismemberment. It's perhaps best known for the gore FX from Mark Shostrom (From Beyond, Evil Dead 2, Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors). Two Stars.
Final Exam (1881) - A silent killer stalks the campus of a small Southern college - complete with spooky synth score. Final Exam is perhaps best known for being confiscated in the U.K. "video nasty" panic - and the film's lead character Radish (Joel Rice) being one of the inspirations for Randy Meeks in the Scream franchise. Three Stars.
The House On Sorority Row (1982) - Another class-sick '80s slasher featuring soap opera stars, numerous victims, an especially sharp cane, an underused clown suit ... and a bitchin' party band! Three Stars.
And last but certainly not least! The Jamie Lee Curtis "Student Survives Slasher" Trilogy - Of course the Scream Queen and fan-favorite Final Girl not only makes the list - she gets her own section dedicated to a trio of class-sicks sure to be included in everyone's collection: Halloween (1978), Prom Night (1980) and Terror Train (1980). While both Halloween and Prom Night would spawn sequels, strangely enough Terror Train did not. Personally I think it would have been rad if Curtis had followed up with Terror Cruise and Terror Plane, but that's just me. Curtis would return to campus again - this time as a teacher - in the popular H20: Halloween 20 Years Later. Five Stars. Heck, give her all the stars.
But wait! There's more! - Speaking of sequels - and there have been many to Slumber Party Massacre, Sorority House Massacre, Halloween and Prom Night - the award for Most Entertaining School Slasher Sequel goes to: Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987) - Shifting gears into straight-up supernatural horror, Hello Mary Lou features Lisa Schrage (Food of the Gods Part 2) as the demonic prom queen out for revenge. It's a glorious gory mix of Canadian Carrie meets Nightmare on Maple Street. Mary Lou rocks. Four Stars.
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