Radio crochets

Well, I came across this little number in Greenwich at the Exchange shop and although the sleeve was an awfully painted picture that "bears" little to no resemblence to any scene in the film I thought I'd pay the £3 and give it a twirl. I'm glad I did. It's good little slasher flick compared to most of the low budget teen horrors of the time. The plot is a little thin as are the not-so-special effects and the killer's stupid costume, but all this adds to the charm. It's the kind of film you'd get from the video man on a friday night and watch with your cousins. And there's loads of almost familar faces that we've all seen in horror films from the era including "Vicky" from "Friday The 13th Part 2". Watchable if you can actually find this title anywhere anymore.

(** out of ***** -- and I'm probably being generous) Well, if you can get past the first half hour, with drunk college guys joking around, mugging for the camera, and doing one irritating imitation after another (who's idea was that?), then you'll probably find the rest of this mystery slasher mildly diverting, at the least. A killer in a mascot bear costume with big round eyes and knives for paws (kinda like Freddy Krueger) is knocking off guys and gals on a late-night scavenger hunt. When the story isn't following one lame relationship problem after another, we get to watch Hal Holbrook, as a campus security guard, sitting at a desk looking bored and out of place as he tries to figure out who the killer is. Not all of the acting's bad, and there are some fairly scary moments, but there's hardly any blood and too many mindless, coed shenanigans. The use of oldies rock and roll songs and some of the hair and clothing styles make the movie look like it was supposed to take place in the '50s (even though the annoying school DJ -- who for some damn reason gets his ugly mug shown about EVERY FIVE MINUTES in his studio -- tells us it's part of a some kinda '50s flashback weekend).

HIGHLIGHT: The final shot is pretty chilling, and it's a great leaves-you-hanging place for the movie to end. Still, probably not worth the rental (assuming you can actually find this anywhere).

After reading the reviews here on the imdb for this movie, I feel I have to step in the redress the balance somewhat! Sure, this isn't "Gladiator" but it's one of the better teen slashers from the eighties and doesn't deserve the mauling it's received here.

The plot - a menacing killer picking off university co-eds during a scavenger hunt - is just a credible as the more popular storylines in slashers like "Prom Night" and "Friday The 13th" and the direction from Robert Deubel generates many decent jolts and suspense. Everything moves at an entertaining pace upto a satisfying finale with a neat little twist.

I'm a big fan of these campus slasher pics - other fine examples being "Final Exam" and "Graduation Day" - and, for me, this was one of the best ones from the eighties. It may look a little dated now we've seen the "Scream"s and "I Know.."s of the late nineties but I'm sure most fans of this nifty horror subgenre will enjoy. Recommended.

**** / *****

Set at Dewitt University, a small Ohio college, this one starts out as a routine drama after a basketball game which Dewitt U wins the title cup. Afterwards, the first 30 or more minutes has the guys of the team partying, drinking, talking and talking with their co-ed girlfriends, etc. Then, an unseen killer, posing as the mascot for the basketball team, begins stalking and killing a number of young girls from the cheerleading squad. Mostly riping their throats out with a hand-made 'claw' in one of the paws made from kitchen knifes. Meanwhile, Mac (Hal Holbrook) is the campus security guard, looking very puzzled to what's going on, who wades through a series of red herrings.

Not the best of the early 1980's slasher flicks, with the bear costume the only original thing about this one. Worth a look for horror fans, with some nice touches to the low-budget.

Contents: seven killings; inferior slaughter; one psycho in a bearsuit; no sex or nudity; lots of Golden Oldies on the soundtrack; much duller and dumber than usual. Note: proper punctuation is not all this one is missing.

A sorority holding a scavenger hunt are attacked by a person wearing a bear suit, claiming to be somebody that is already dead. The company (Thorn Emi) that financed this picture must be ashamed of themselves, because this has got to be one of the worst slasher flicks from the 80's. It is good for a chuckle here and there, especially when the killer is killing the sorority girls with his bear suit. Otherwise avoid it. 2 out of 10.