Killer's Run

My review was written in March 1988 after watching the movie on Celebrity video cassette.

"Fatal Pulse" is a direct-to-video slasher film that is a throwback to the days before women protested against the genre. Pretty sorority girls are killed in bloody fashion and the campus killer's identity is very predictable.

Murders are tied to a locale, a fraternity house owned by Joe Phelan (a dead ringer for his real-life brother Martin Sheen). Hero Ken Roberts ridiculously uses his girlfriend Michelle McCormick as bait to flush out the killer. Ineffectual cop on the case is played by porn star Herschel Savage, here credited as Harvey Cowen.

Softcore sex tease alternates with spilling of blood, while the windup, that the killer was suffering from a fatal illness and used hallucinogens (that turned him into a maniac) to combat it, comes off as silly. For the umpteenth time, a false ending is tacked on. Acting is way below average.

Just minutes after her boyfriend Jeff has left the scene following an argument, scorching hot sorority girl Stephanie (played by a woman called Kitty, whose next career step was, rather unsurprisingly, in porn) is raped and killed by a gloved maniac (in retrospect, answering the door to a total stranger in nothing but bra, knickers and stockings probably wasn't the greatest idea). Being the last person to see Stephanie alive, Jeff is the prime suspect, and becomes the target of a wild mob after several other sorority house-mates are also brutally murdered…

With a routine, logic-free plot and almost zero gore, Fatal Pulse risks being an instantly forgettable slasher, but director Anthony J. Christopher has an ace up his sleeve that makes this one a little more memorable than it really has any right to be: whereas most films of this ilk feature one or two babes willing to flash their tits in order to tick the nudity box, Fatal Pulse goes bonkers with the boobies, with not one of its pretty blonde sorority sisters being butchered until they have bared their breasts.

Stephanie gets her bra pulled off by the killer before being strangled with a stocking. Carol (Skylar Nicholas) has her throat cut with a vinyl record, but not before she's shown us her itty bitties. Sheila (Maureen O'Hanlon) gives her chest a good wash in the bath before being drowned by the leather-gloved maniac. A skateboard babe has her vest torn off to reveal her ample chest, shortly before being tossed out of window. A girl is strapped topless to a metal frame and electrocuted, and another victim is stripped to her panties and smothered in plaster of Paris. Only lovely Lisa (Michelle McCormick), Jeff's ex-girlfriend, doesn't show us the goods, even though SHE has the only sex scene (what gives?!?!).

In addition to all of the jubblies, slasher fans may also get a kick from the horrible synth/rock soundtrack, the numerous sinister suspects (who include creepy Professor Caldwell, Jeff's one-time best friend turned bitter love rival Brad, and Joe Estevez as Vietnam veteran Ernie, whose PTSD flashbacks only involve sound effects because it's cheaper than showing actual war footage), and an irritating stoner called Mark whose every appearance is inexplicably accompanied by a silly 'Poing!' noise.

A late 80's slasher with a depraved psycho who seems fixated on the women of one particular sorority house.

Mainly remembered for the infamous kill via record, this one has never had a good reputation. No doubt, there's some stupid stuff here. For starters, the sorority bimbos are dumb enough to keep staying in the same house despite the fact that they're obviously in danger. Joe Estevez has a ridiculous role as the resident red herring, a Vietnam vet who owns the house and enjoys spying on the girls as they undress. He also has one of the more amusing flashback scenes you're likely to witness. The main character is a bland douchebag who whines for the majority of the film. His rival looks like someone who stepped out of the 50's. The cops are idiots who don't even appear to be paying much attention to the investigation.

With all that said, "Fatal Pulse" is fun to watch if you're a lover of cheese. This is a bad movie, no doubt, but I had a good time with it. Certainly more so than I did with overrated slasher trash like "Halloween II" or "Prom Night". There's an ample amount of nudity on display, too. For no apparent reason, the killer strips the women before each murder. The explanation behind the killings is certainly different, though the identity of the culprit comes as no surprise.

Oh, and no review would be complete without mentioning the lead's obnoxious friend who acts like a complete moron and is even accompanied by his own signature sound effect whenever he enters a scene. At one point, he dresses up like a superhero to fend off a mob. Yep, this is a weird one.

This movie does NOT take itself seriously. It's a slasher comedy about sorority girls that get killed by a psycho. One by one the coeds end up murdered. They intentionally add sound effects and act silly. If you have seen Evil Laugh or Student Bodies then you will most likely enjoy this film. It's creepy at times and is a decent slasher that makes you laugh! I rated it higher than other reviewers because they take movies like this too seriously. Watch Fatal Pulse if you like cheesy horror comedies with cool death scenes, a creepy killer, and suspenseful music!

Sorority House Massacre clone about some sorority girls falling prey to a killer. Two teens, one being the main suspect, team up to find out who is behind all the killings. Featuring more violence and nudity then usual, but that can't cover up the fact that this is just plain out awful. Not even good in a bad way and with no camp value what so ever.

Rated R; Extreme Violence, Nudity, Sexual Situations, and Profanity.