An eighteen-year-old high school girl is left at home by her parents and she decides to have a slumber party.
I’ve been really excited to be reviewing this franchise, so lets get on with it!
I’ll never forget the first time I saw this flick, I’m ashamed to admit I picked it up because of the provocative cover but give me a break, I was a young teenage boy. Despite this I was in for more of a treat than I was aware of, I was about to watch a film that would become one of my favourite films.
The film has a ton of humour in it, Writer Rita Mae Brown wrote a parody of teen/slasher flicks and titled it “Sleepless Nights”. However, when she submitted it to the producers, they filmed it as if it weren’t a parody and re-titled it “Slumber Party Massacre”.
The feature was also Directed by a woman, Amy Holden Jones. She had got her start in the industry as Martin Scorsese’s assistant on “Taxi Driver”. She then went to work as an editor for Roger Corman before giving up the chance to edit E.T. in order to direct “Slumber Party Massacre”. She did an amazing job and gave us a cult favourite.
The score for the film sets the entire tone of what’s to come and fits in perfectly, the cast is fantastic and yes that is Brinke Stevens you see in the film. For me though the killer steals the show with his none-too-subtle phallic symbol, he truly seems out of his mind and the ladies seems genuinely terrified of him.
“The Slumber Party Massacre” is a great comedic horror with plenty of blood. It’s easily one of the best b-movies done in the genre and has a-lot more depth than it’s given credit for.
Miscellaneous facts about the film:
The entire score was done on a Casio synthesizer.
Aaron Lipstadt, who plays the pizza boy, directed Android (1982), which was also released in 1982. “Android” was produced by Roger Corman, who also produced Hollywood Boulevard (1976), the film being watched by Valerie.
Michael Villella deliberately avoided talking to the other cast members during the shooting of the picture.
Andree Honore is the only cast member featured on the original theatrical one sheet poster. The blonde woman lying on the floor is Jillian Kesner, who isn’t in the film.
In the background when Kim is hurling ornaments at the killer in Trish’s bedroom, you can see the book “Rubyfruit Jungle”, by Rita Mae Brown, this film’s writer.
Film debut of Robin Stille.
The original first draft of the script was called “Don’t Open The Door”.
Director Amy Holden Jones shot a promo film of the original script’s prologue for $1,000 so she could get a directing job from Roger Corman. Corman was so impressed by the promo that he asked Jones to make a feature-length movie from the script.
Michael Villella based his physical body movements as Russ Thorn on the peacock.
Brinke Stevens got her first big speaking role in this film.
Michael Villella read the book “Helter Skelter” in order to research the role of Russ Thorn.
The big conclusion in the backyard with the swimming pool was added to the movie in a reshoot.
Michael Villella originally read for the role of the neighbor David Contant.
If you enjoy the Horror stuff I do for SomeWhatNerdy then make sure you click on the links below:
Raz’s Midnight Macabre Facebook page (HERE)
Raz’s Midnight Macabre Blog page (HERE)
