In a decade where slasher films were as common as legwarmers and Members Only jackets, 1982’s “The Slumber Party Massacre” (directed by Amy Holden Jones and written by Rita Mae Brown) stood out from the glut of “Friday the 13th” knockoffs with great writing and even better direction.
High School Senior Trish Deveraux (played by Michelle Michaels) decides to have a slumber party with her friends Kim, Jackie, and Diane (played by Debra Deliso, Andree Honore, and Gina Mari) while her parents are away on a trip. She also invites Valerie Bates (played by Robin Stille) to the party, the awkward new girl at the school who lives in the house across the street; but Valerie reluctantly declines, having to babysit her younger sister Courtney (played by Jennifer Meyers). Simultaneously, escaped serial killer Russ Thorn (played by Michael Villella) is on a killing spree, armed with a huge power drill and Trish’s house is in his path.
A Surprisingly Feminist Slasher Film
“The Slumber Party Massacre” is all about the girls. Despite the fact the killer is male, it’s the girls who REALLY control the action and narrative of the film. Throughout the night, Trish and her friends smoke weed, drink, and talk about guys all with reckless abandon. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the timid generic females that usually popped up in ’80s films aimed at teen audiences (like Julie from “Valley Girl,” for example). You really get to like them over the course of the film and it makes things doubly terrifying once the killer shows up.
Most of the males in the film are teenagers who act like they wandered straight out of “Porky’s.” They’re either horny, stupid, or both. Also, Mr. Contant (the creepy man living next door played by Rigg Kennedy) likes appearing at the worst times. Asked to watch over the house by Trish’s parents, he comes off more like a pedophile than a protector, either creeping around or offering advice that nobody asked for.
The most fascinating character in the film is Valerie, the girl who lives across the street stuck at home babysitting her younger sister Courtney. Valerie seems like a 35-year-old woman trapped in the body of a High School senior. She’s incredibly patient with Courtney and seems wise beyond her years, more like a mother to her than a sister. Even though she finds herself longingly looking across the street at the party/sleepover going on, she’d never leave her sister. Watching her and Courtney interact is heart-warming at times; the actresses have great chemistry and seem like real sisters. Courtney loves playing practical jokes on her sister, though, which results in some well-timed jump scares that heighten the tension.
Subtle Commentary; Not So Subtle Symbolism
The killer, Russ Thorn, wields a power drill with an extremely long drill bit on it. The phallic symbolism is about as subtle as a hammer, especially in one scene, where Thorn stands over a woman and kills her with the drill as the camera shoots the kill from between his legs. Thorn, like most killers in these films, has no personality. He’s murder personified, a killing machine who mutters and snarls his way through the night.
The synth score by Ralph Jones is fantastic and reminiscent of some of John Carpenter’s work. Director Amy Holden Jones keeps the film moving at a brisk pace, and there’s a playful dark sense of humor throughout. She doesn’t shy away from brutality and gore, and she delivers the ultra-violent goods. The final showdown with the killer is thrilling and has a great payoff.
If you love slashers, check it out. If you hate slashers, check it out anyway, you’ll love it.
“The Slumber Party Massacre” is available to rent or watch from most streaming services.
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